Baldwin Notches Wins for Wisconsin Farmers, Rural Communities, Water Infrastructure, and Tribes in Annual Funding Legislation

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, brought home funding to support Wisconsin farmers, rural communities, water infrastructure, and tribal nations in the government funding legislation signed into law earlier this month.

“Wisconsin farmers are the beating heart of our rural communities, and I’ve worked alongside them to preserve generations of family farm operations by securing the resources they need to succeed. Whether it’s supporting Wisconsin dairy, investing in innovative agricultural research, or ensuring they have access to mental health resources, I am proud to bring home these funds to support our shared goal of a prosperous, resilient agricultural economy in Wisconsin,” said Senator Baldwin. “We’re also investing in our rural communities for the next generation – protecting our farmland from foreign investors, expanding high-speed internet, and creating economic opportunities. Wisconsin’s tribal nations are also seeing investments in housing, transportation, and native language programs that I was proud to support. Finally, water is essential to the Wisconsin way of life, and this bill continues to make down payments on the future of our clean water infrastructure – getting rid of dangerous chemicals, ensuring families have safe drinking water, and investing in the health and resilience of our lakes, rivers, and freshwater ecosystems that are essential to our Made in Wisconsin economy.”

Supporting Wisconsin Farmers

Expanding Farmer Mental Health Resources: $10 million for Senator Baldwin’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. The bill also requires that the federal government explore expanding Senator Baldwin’s 9-8-8, a national three-digit crisis line, to also include specialized mental health services for farmers.

Dairy Business Innovation Initiative: $12 million for Senator Baldwin’s Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, a highly successful program that helps dairy farmers and processors add value to their businesses to insulate themselves from price fluctuations, diversify their products, and build resilience.

Investing in Agricultural Research: Senator Baldwin secured resources to help crops become more resilient to pests, disease, and climate change, including consistent funding for cranberry, cover crop, and dairy research.

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