The Nature Conservancy is giving challenge grants to support farmer-led watershed groups in Wisconsin. The dollars help create innovative cost-share programs for agricultural conservation practices.
The programs aim to help farmers implement practices that support soil and water quality on their land. At the same time, the practices aim to benefit their economic bottom line. With support from the Sally Mead Foundation, TNC awarded grants of between $5,000 and $10,000 to 10 groups.
The groups receiving funding are:
- Rush Creek Watershed Conservation Council
- FDL Co. Watersheds Alliance
- Kenosha Regenerative Producers Group
- Eau Pleine Partnership for Integrated Conservation
- Red Cedar Conservation Farmers
- Clean Farm Families
- Bad Axe Watershed Stewards
- Rock River Regenerative Graziers
- Farmers for Lake Country
- Coon Creek Community Watershed Council
Conservation practices include programs to incentivize members to plant multi-species cover crops, interseed cover crops into cash crops, plant green, and add one or more crops to their rotation. The grants will also support groups’ goals of developing equipment-sharing techniques to advance the adoption of conservation practices by members and incentivizing members to adopt new nutrient management practices that promote healthy soils and clean water.
Priority for awarding the grants was given based on the creativity of the cost-sharing programs and to
newer, less established groups.
