WI Budget 2025-27 - Wins and Losses for Family Farmers

By Blake Jackson

The 2025-2027 Wisconsin State Budget, signed by Governor Tony Evers on July 3, brings both progress and setbacks for family farmers across the state. As a result of bipartisan negotiation, the budget includes critical funding for public services, mental health support, and childcare.

However, it also reduces funding for several key local food initiatives, conservation efforts, and antitrust enforcement measures.

“Wisconsin Farmers Union appreciates that lawmakers came together to pass a budget that reflects input from both sides of the aisle,” said Michelle Ramirez-White, Government Relations Director for Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU). “There are several meaningful wins here for family farmers, but also some disappointing losses.”

Among the wins, major conservation programs received strong support. The Cover Crop Rebate Program secured $800,000 annually, and the Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) was granted $1 million per year both essential to rewarding sustainable farming and reducing nitrogen runoff. The Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) was expanded with $150 million in funding, with 20% designated for repairing small local bridges.

Public health and education services, including the UW System, farmer mental health programs, and free clinics, also saw increased funding.

A compromise on childcare, which played a key role in finalizing the budget, included $110 million for per-child monthly payments, $123 million for Wisconsin Shares reimbursement increases, and $28.6 million for a pilot program to expand statewide childcare access.

Despite these gains, some important programs were left unfunded. The Value-Added Agriculture Grant, Food Waste Reduction Grant, Meat Talent Development Grant, Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, and the Farm to Fork Grant Program received no support. The total funding gap for these initiatives exceeds $7 million over two years.

“Agricultural assistance programs that increase funding for local food in our food pantries, schools, and other institutions are vital for family farmers and communities in Wisconsin,” said WFU President Darin Von Ruden. “The lack of funding for these programs in the State Budget is a missed opportunity to strengthen our local food systems.”

Additionally, programs supporting CAFO oversight, farmland preservation, rural broadband, and antitrust enforcement staffing were excluded. WFU pledges to continue advocating for the restoration of these critical programs in the future.

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