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Bill

AB 845

Relating to: creating a grant program for farmers who implement certain sustainable practices, granting rule-making authority, and making an appropriation. (FE)

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Clint Anderson and 18 co-sponsors

Wisconsin creates a farmer grant program for sustainable agriculture practices with agency rule-making authority and state funding appropriation.

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
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Bill Summary · AB 845

Legislative bill overview

AB 845 establishes a grant program in Wisconsin that provides financial incentives to farmers who adopt sustainable agricultural practices. The bill grants rule-making authority to state agencies to define eligible practices and appropriates funding to support farmer participation in the program.

Why is this important

Agricultural sustainability affects water quality, soil health, carbon sequestration, and long-term farm viability. Direct financial incentives can accelerate farmer adoption of practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage, or integrated pest management that might otherwise be cost-prohibitive or require extended payback periods.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding amount and allocation: The bill's total appropriation amount is not specified in the summary, raising questions about whether funding will be sufficient to meaningfully incentivize behavior change or reach significant numbers of farmers
  • Definition of "sustainable practices": Rule-making authority allows agencies broad discretion to define eligible practices, which could favor certain farming methods or scales (e.g., larger operations may more easily adopt some practices) or exclude farmer-preferred approaches
  • Program administration and equity: Questions exist about whether the grant process will be accessible to all farm sizes, whether disadvantaged or beginning farmers will have equal access, and what administrative costs will consume from the budget

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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