A Legislative Victory For Wisconsin Farmland

by Greg Plotkin · 2009-02-20 14:21:00 UTC
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Wisconsin silos; by jhritzFinally coming to grips with the reality of a nose-diving economy, many states around the country are facing dramatic budget cuts that will effectively eliminate or greatly reduce funding for, among other provisions, programs that protect farmland and promote agricultural viability and the consumption of local foods.

This has already happened in New York and other states are feeling the pressure to cut funding from programs that are not seen as a necessity in our current economic climate.

Good thing Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle knows the truth: investing in agriculture is one of the best ways to grow jobs and stimulate the local economy.

When Gov. Doyle presented his 2009 – 2011 budget plan to the state recently, he made it clear that preserving farmland will be a priority, at least in the near future. In his budget address, the Governor affirmed that “Wisconsin's farms are an essential part of our economy.”

Included in the state’s budget is funding for the Working Lands Initiative (essentially a budget-neutral package accomplished by reforming the state’s old farmland protection program), as well as funding for the Dairy Processing Cooperatives Investment Tax Credit, the Meat Processing Tax Credit, the Next Generation Farmer Tax Credit and the Buy Local/Buy Wisconsin Program.

Now, I’m not particularly convinced that the Dairy and Meat Processing tax credits work to move the state towards a more sustainable food system (apparently these credits “allow dairy plant and meat plant operators to claim up to 10 percent of any investment in modernization and/or expansion of their facility), but I am happy that the state is making a commitment to farmer transition training and to its buy local program.

Investment in the state’s Buy Local/Buy Wisconsin Program is not surprising considering that within its first six months of existence, Wisconsin has reaped over $2 for every dollar invested through the Buy Local/Buy Wisconsin grant program.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: investment in local food and farms equals an investment in the local economy.

Now we just have to hope other states follow Wisconsin’s lead.

(Photo credit: jhritz on Flickr)

Greg Plotkin is the Coordinator of Farm Camp at Flying Pigs Farm in Washington County, New York.
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