You can expect more farmers across the state to be better stewards of the land they operate on thanks to $1 million in producer-led watershed protection grants awarded by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection earlier this month. Forty-seven groups, including locally-based Peninsula Pride Farms, received as much as $35,000 for producer-led conservation solutions to encourage innovation and farmer participation. Peninsula Pride Farms will primarily use its $29,600 grant to fund its cost-share program that enables farmers to try one of nearly ten conservation practices on their fields. Peninsula Pride Farms President Duane Ducat says it is encouraging to see the number of producer-led groups and participating farmers grow yearly.

Peninsula Pride Farms also received funding from The Nature Conservancy to encourage farmers to try various cover crop techniques. The organization will hold its annual meeting on February 13th at 9 a.m. at the Kewaunee County Fairgrounds.