Peninsula Pride Farms, based in Kewaunee and southern Door County, was one of more than 40 producer-led watershed groups to receive grants to continue their efforts. Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection awarded $1 million in grants to the groups, which is earmarked in the state’s biennial budget. Peninsula Pride Farms was one of four groups that received $37,960, the most awarded to a single applicant. A dozen others received at least $30,000 for efforts to incentivize farmers to engage in conservation efforts through educational activities, on-farm research and demonstration, and incentives that help minimize financial risk. In the past, Peninsula Pride Farms has used the grant funding for its cost-share program, which board member Nick Guilette said earlier this year that it has been very beneficial on several different fronts.

Peninsula Pride Farms President Don Niles says the grants show the state has noticed what the organization is trying to accomplish and the success they have had.

Over 50 percent of Peninsula Pride Farms members last year participated in the cost-share program. Last year, more than 350,000 acres of land owned by members were covered by Peninsula Pride Farms members. This is the eighth round of grant funds made available through the state budget since the 2015-2017 cycle. Four of the 43 organizations that received grant funding through the program were new.