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Governor Evers Signs Bill Creating Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program

Tuesday, April 12th, 2022 -- 8:10 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) As expected, Gov. Tony Evers has signed the bill that calls for the creation of a commercial nitrogen optimization pilot program.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, the move has brought praise from most of Wisconsin's agricultural groups, which have been supporting AB 727 as a well-balanced approach to protecting the state's groundwater while allowing farmers the ability to implement reasonable conservation practices.

Rep. Joel Kitchens of Sturgeon Bay and Sen. Robert Cowles from Green Bay were the main authors of the measure. They feel the bill offers the right approach to bring both the agricultural and conservation communities together to collaborate on meaningful changes that improve the quality of the state's water and environment.

The newly passed legislation is made up of three major components:

  • It establishes a two-year, $1 million per year Nitrate Optimization Pilot Program to allow farmers to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to work with University of Wisconsin-System institutions to try new measures to increase utilization of applied nitrates, reduce nitrate leaching, and monitor the results;
  • Allows farmers to apply for a $5 per acre rebate on their crop insurance premiums if they plant cover crops and have not received cover crop funding from state or federal programs;
  • And requires the UW-System to create a three-year hydrogeologist position to help localities increase their knowledge of local natural features.

Various ag groups have been expressing their support for the bill's passage including:

  • Wisconsin Farm Bureau,
  • Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association,
  • Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association,
  • Wisconsin Pork Association,
  • Wisconsin Soybean Association,
  • Wisconsin Cattlemen's Association,
  • Wisconsin Association of Professional Agricultural Consultants,
  • Wisconsin Corn Growers Association,
  • Wisconsin Agri-Business Association,
  • Wisconsin Farmers Union,
  • Cooperative Network,
  • Dairy Business Association,
  • Midwest Food Products Association,
  • Midwest-SouthEastern Equipment Dealers Association,
  • Wisconsin Farm Credit Services,
  • Clean Wisconsin,
  • Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin,
  • And WI Land+Water.

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