Wisconsin Farm/Ag Groups Mostly Happy with Governor Evers' Budget
Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 -- 9:05 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -Rural Wisconsin will see new investments in broadband connectivity, increased mental health assistance for small dairy processors, funding for water quality initiatives, and additional resources for Wisconsin's developing hemp industry if lawmakers approve the state budget plan presented by Gov. Tony Evers last week.State Agriculture Secretary Brad Pfaff said in a statement on Friday that the proposals will also help family farmers, support rural communities and protect the state's environmental resources. He adds that the governor has continued the work of Dairy Task Force 2.0 to help promote and enhance the cornerstone of Wisconsin agriculture. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau weighed in on the budget proposal, saying they are happy to see the governor prioritize funding for farmers in northeast Wisconsin's karst areas in assisting them with implementing the new targeted performance standards. They were also pleased to see increased funding for the Producer-Led Watershed grant program, but didn't think a proposed eight-cents per-gallon tax hike on gasoline would provide enough investment to fix deteriorating roads and bridges. The WFBF also liked Evers' plan to increase the county-based University of Wisconsin-Extension agricultural positions by 20 full-time employees.
But they would like to prioritize the positions of integrated specialist roles which would hold a joint appointment between UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and UW-Extension. And the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association said it applauds the governor's dairy processing-related provisions, such as increased funding for dairy processor grants, and added support for the Wisconsin Initiative for Dairy Exports program. The WCMA also liked adjustments to DATCP expenditure authority, which allow the reclassification of staff positions for the retention of key, high-quality personnel.
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