Farmer-Led Conservation Support Bill Signed by Governor Evers

On April 8, a Wisconsin Farm Bureau and Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association supported bill prioritizing farmer-led conservation efforts to optimize nitrogen application on farms was signed into law by Governor Evers as Wisconsin Act 223.

“Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciates Governor Evers support for this bill,” said WFBF President Kevin Krentz. “Wisconsin farmers appreciate the continued bipartisan support for this initiative and the opportunity this will provide for farmers to continue finding ways to utilize nitrogen efficiently on their farms.”

Authored by Senator Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Representative Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay), the bill supports farmer-led conservation efforts across the state and enables farmers to continue finding ways to enhance nitrogen efficiency on farms.

“Wisconsin farmers want to be leaders in the development of improved water quality practices on farms,” said Tamas Houlihan, Executive Director of Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association. “The new programs created in this bill support those incredibly powerful and successful farmer-led conservation efforts that we have seen develop across Wisconsin.”

Act 223 includes a commercial nitrogen optimization pilot program that will incentivize farmers to engage in new practices to better utilize nitrogen on farms and share their project findings with other farmers across the state. Also included is a cover crop insurance premium rebate program that will provide additional support to farmers that plant cover crops. The act also allows for the creation of an additional, limited-term hydrogeologist position at Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey to continue to develop reliable soil depth-to-bedrock maps to help provide accurate maps and data for Wisconsin farmers.

“These tools will further empower farmer-led conservation efforts across the state,” Krentz said. “We are excited for the opportunities this act creates while providing additional tools for farmers to address clean water solutions.”