Be prepared to see new and additional conservation practices in a farm field near you in Door and Kewaunee counties.

Peninsula Pride Farms, a farmer-led conservation group covering southern Door and Kewaunee County, was awarded a $40,000 watershed protection grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection earlier this week. They were among 36 such groups to receive the $1 million towards new conservation practice incentives, water quality testing and monitoring, and outreach efforts. With over 50 member farms in the group, PPF President Don Niles says the grant funding allows operators to invest more in their conservation efforts without absorbing all the risk.

Niles is encouraged by the seven new groups that have been formed and received funding this year and that the program continues to have legs. This is the seventh round of grant funds made available to farmers since they were first included in the 2015-2017 state budget. Peninsula Pride Farms will highlight their progress over the last year when they host their annual meeting on February 15th at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds Exposition Hall in Luxemburg beginning at 10 a.m.