Video: State Representative Oldenburg speaks on the floor of the legislature on assembly bill that expands watershed groups

Madison, Wis. – 96th Assemblyman Loren Oldenburg (R-Viroqua) was on the floor of Wisconsin legislature this week advocating for a bill that would provide more support and resources to Wisconsin’s Farmer Led Watershed Groups.

In a written statement earlier this week Oldenburg said Assembly Bill 65 would help farmers adopt conservation practices, and specifically it would help the three watershed groups already up and running in his district.

“Yesterday the Wisconsin State Assembly voted on a number of bills,” Oldenburg said. “One expanded the eligibility to create Producer Led Watershed programs. The 96th District contains three of these such watersheds.”

The three watershed groups already up and running in Vernon County are the Tainter Creek Farmer Led Watershed Council (the first in Vernon County), the Bad Axe Farmer Led Watershed Council and the Coon Creek Community Watershed Council. All of the groups have been meeting individually and now meet as a combined group once every quarter.

According to testimony in the legislature Assembly Bill 65 makes two changes relating to Producer-Led Watershed Protection groups. First, currently, these groups are only eligible for state funding from the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). This bill allows these groups to seek additional state assistance and qualify for the Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) competitive Surface Water Grant Programs. Collectively, these DNR programs are funded at about $2.5 million annually. Second, the bill makes a technical change to clarify that these groups may exist in multiple adjacent watersheds, which allows farmers near an existing group to join-in and make these positive changes extend even further regardless of if they’re across the watershed border.

Twenty-five environmental and agricultural organizations endorsed the bill. The bill was unanimously passed by the Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senate this week and is on its way to Governor Evers’ desk.

At a glance grant requirements:

• At least 5 farmers within the same watershed
• At least one collaborator: county land conservation, UW-Division of Extension, WI DNR, nonprofit organization
• ​Max award $40,000 per group​