The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has released a report on the impact of its Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants (PLWPG) Program. The program aims to enhance conservation practices across the state's farmland, contributing to the preservation of soil health and water quality.

According to DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski, "Wisconsin's abundant soil and water resources are important to the success of our state's $116.3 billion agriculture industry." He added that "the producer-led program, and the conservation initiatives implemented by farmers in the program, continue to have a measurable impact."

In 2023, there were 2,016 farmer members involved in producer-led groups managing 782,674 acres of cropland in Wisconsin. These groups organized 182 outreach events that attracted 11,962 attendees interested in conservation and water quality topics related to agriculture. Additionally, they initiated and maintained 93 on-farm demonstration and research projects focused on new soil health strategies.

The total acreage under reported conservation practices increased from 1.1 million acres in 2022 to 1.5 million acres in 2023. Notably, there was a 29% rise in acres covered by nutrient management plans, a 15% increase in no-till practice-managed acres, and a 2% increase in cropland with cover crops.

Since its launch in 2015, DATCP has distributed over $7.2 million to support 52 groups across various watersheds statewide. The grants have been used for educational activities for farmers, on-farm demonstrations and research projects, incentive payments for adopting conservation methods, field days organization, and data collection on soil health and water quality.

For more information about the PLWPG Program or to access the full impact report, visit DATCP's website.