The Dairy Business Association is thanking the governor for signing the Agricultural Road Improvement Program legislation into law. This new program creates grants for local governments to improve deteriorating rural infrastructure serving our farms and rural communities.
Action last week by the Joint Committee on Finance provided $150 million in funding for the newly created program. The effort to support long-term investment in our state’s agricultural infrastructure was led by the Committee’s co-chairs, Sen. Marklein and Rep. Born, as well as the bill’s authors, Sens. Marklein, R-Spring Green, Tomczyk, R-Mosinee, and Ballweg, R-Markesan, and Reps. Tranel, R-Cuba City, and VanderMeer, R-Tomah.
“Our state’s farmers move millions of gallons of milk — a perishable product — across our rural infrastructure 365 days a year,” says DBA President Lee Kinnard. “It is essential that the infrastructure they use meets the needs of Wisconsin’s dairy farm families, supporting our rural communities.”
This issue was a key priority for DBA entering the state budget process. Additional DBA budget priorities awaiting action by the Joint Committee on Finance include funding for the relocated Farm and Industry Short Course program at UW-River Falls and funding to update and modernize the Farmland Preservation Program.
See a recent Mid-West Farm Report story on the announcement: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2023/06/21/evers-signs-farm-road-improvement-bill/
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