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Wisconsin will make additional direct payments to farmers

Wisconsin farmers will be eligible for a state-operated direct payment program for coronavirus relief, on top of the USDA’s new CFAP program.

Governor Tony Evers confirmed Wednesday afternoon he will take 50-million dollars from the 1.9 billion given to the state in the CARES Act to use for the direct payments, plus another 15 million dollars to assist food security efforts.

Eligible farmers will be asked to apply for the aid through the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, which is working in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Farm support payments could begin arriving as early as June.

The 50-million is exactly what eight Wisconsin farm organizations requested from Evers in an April 21^st letter.  The letter was sent by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Dairy Business Association, Wisconsin Soybean Association, Wisconsin Pork Association, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association, and the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association.

Evers issued a statement saying, “DATCP and I have engaged in productive meetings with agriculture stakeholders to ensure a fair, accessible distribution system for these aid payments, and I look forward to getting this relief into the hands of farmers around the state.”