The Sconi

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has announced that applications are now open for the 2026 Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants. The program's budget for the upcoming year is set at $1 million, with eligible groups able to receive grants of up to $40,000 each.

The grant initiative is designed to assist farmers in developing and promoting conservation solutions tailored to their specific watersheds. Factors such as topography, soil composition, types of farming operations, and other regional differences will be considered when selecting projects.

“Wisconsin farmers are stewards of the land, and land and water conservation programs are a priority in Governor Evers' 2025-2027 Executive Budget," said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “Thanks to funding proposed by Governor Evers and approved by the legislature, producers and their many partners across Wisconsin will be able to continue working together to implement and promote practices that support soil and water health."

To qualify for these grants, applicant groups must consist of at least five farmers who operate within the same or neighboring watersheds. Each farm represented in the group must have generated a minimum of $6,000 in gross farm revenue during the previous year or at least $18,000 over the past three years. Additionally, every group is required to partner with a county land conservation department, University of Wisconsin-Extension, or a nonprofit conservation organization. Both newly established and existing groups may apply.

Grant details and application forms can be found on DATCP’s website at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ProducerLedProjects.aspx. Applications should be submitted via email in Microsoft Word format. For further information about the program or application process, interested parties can contact Producer-Led Watershed Program Manager Dani Heisler at dani.heisler@wisconsin.gov or call (608) 640-7270.

Launched in 2015, the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants program was the first state-run initiative of its kind in the United States. Since its inception, more than $7.2 million has been awarded by DATCP to 53 producer-led watershed groups throughout Wisconsin. Total funding requests since 2015 have approached $10 million.

Past projects funded by these grants have included efforts such as providing educational resources on conservation practices for farmers, conducting research and demonstrations on farms, issuing incentive payments for implementing sustainable methods, organizing field days for knowledge sharing among peers, and collecting data related to soil health and water quality.

In 2024 alone, participating groups reported that their conservation practices impacted approximately 1.7 million acres statewide.