![]() ![]() He attended the Dairy Together meeting in Cashton with his grandson. When money is tight, he said, a lack of federal funds often means farmers are financially unable to adopt conservation practices.ĭarin Von Ruden is an organic dairy farmer and vice president of the Wisconsin Farmers Union. On average, three farmers want to take part in USDA conservation programs for every slot that’s available, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. However, Von Ruden said interest among farmers often outpaces available resources. In fiscal year 2022, federal data shows the USDA contracted with more than 1,500 eligible landowners and farmers in Wisconsin to provide roughly $49 million in financial assistance for conservation practices on around 284,000 acres of land. The programs are offered through the Natural Resources Conservation Service within the U.S. Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden, who owns a small organic dairy farm in Vernon County, said many of the state’s farmers utilize federal programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Stewardship Program. Lauren Victoria Burke/AP PhotoĪgard said the law will benefit the state’s roughly 64,000 farms and provide "farmers with the resources that they need to support climate-friendly agriculture and conservation practices."Īgriculture in Wisconsin contributes $104.8 billion each year to the state’s economy, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. ![]() Mark Pocan, D-Wis., speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington.
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