Farmers across the Midwest went to the mat with climate change this year, from a cold and wet spring that slowed or prevented planting, to severe storms that damaged fields and roads, to a soggy fall that impeded harvests, and a lot in between.  Michael Fields Agricultural Institute believes that government action is urgently needed to […]

Applications are due by 12:00 PM on Friday, February 28, 2020. The Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin (BLBW) program seeks to increase awareness and consumption of locally produced foods and related products and to increase the production and improve the distribution of foods and related products for local consumption. The Buy Local Buy Wisconsin Grant program […]

On January 8, Wisconsin State Representatives Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) introduced a bill whose measures derive from the testimony received as part of 14 hearings conducted in summer of 2019 as co-chairs of the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality. The bill proposes $200,000/year to support a pilot program similar to […]

Tell USDA to Finalize the 2015 Origin of Livestock Rule to Close Organic Dairy Loopholes and Maintain High Organic Integrity Michael Fields Agricultural Institute is asking all certified organic farmers to stand with U.S. certified organic dairy farmers and submit comments to the USDA in support of a strong final Origin of Livestock Rule (OOL). […]

MFAI’s Policy Director Margaret Krome attended the town hall meeting held by USDA Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue earlier this month at the World Dairy Expo in Madison. Among his comments, Perdue answered a question about the loss of small to medium-sized dairy farms in the state, prompting a national discussion about the farm crisis, […]

Dear Industrial Agriculture, It’s been a great experiment – a social, political, climatic, public health, and agricultural experiment, but I think it’s time for us to break up. A lot has changed, and I don’t think we’re a good fit for each other anymore. We had our “Get big or get out” moment in the […]

All farmers are eligible to contact Farm Center staff consultants through the Farm Center Helpline at 1-800-942-2474. All of the Farm Center’s services are free and confidential. The Wisconsin Farm Center works with farmers one-on-one to provide free and confidential services, including: • farm financial consulting • farm succession planning • farm business entry or […]

The annual farm-supporting musical and cultural extravaganza that is Farm Aid came to MFAI’s doorstep this month. Last Thursday, advocates from around the nation gathered in Lake Geneva for a day of exploring topics as diverse as empowerment histories of many Peoples of Color in this country to the ongoing farm crisis to the history […]

“Last week, MFAI submitted comments to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection pertaining to the Department’s proposed revisions to Rule ATCP 51, the Livestock Siting Rule. The Livestock Siting Law that passed in 2006 required the law and the corresponding rule to be subject to review and public comment every four years. […]

NSAC is seeking a Policy Director and a Conservation Policy Specialist to join its collaborative team in Washington, DC. NSAC works to build a more sustainable, equitable farm and food system through advocating for federal policy reform with our grassroots membership of nearly 130 member organizations. Interested in applying? Find position descriptions and application instructions […]

Wisconsin’s Livestock Siting law passed over a decade ago, and although it and the rules to implement it are supposed to be subject to periodic review by technical advisors and the public, Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture has never previously held public hearings as the law specifies.  But last month, the state Board of Agriculture approved […]

Farm Aid board artists Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Photo © Marc Hauser Each year, Farm Aid board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews host a Farm Aid festival to bring together a wide variety of artists, farmers and fans for one mission: keeping family farmers on […]

Photo: No more cows are milked in the old dairy barn on the Hardie family farm. by Chris Hardie/for Agriview A friend once described the most traumatic experience of her life. It wasn’t an assault, an accident or even any physical injury. As a child, her father was laid off as an air traffic controller […]

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute researchers have long conducted research on farming practices that build healthy, biologically active soils, and our policy team has supported policies that create incentives for their inclusion in farming systems. A recent opinion piece in the on-line news group Food Tank speaks to the many reasons healthy soils matter so much […]

“It’s been an honor to serve the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition,” said Margaret Krome, MFAI’s Policy Director, as she ended her ten-month stint as Interim Coalition Director July 15, with just one trip to Washington, D.C. remaining to help her successor, Sarah Hackney, transition into her job. “Sarah brings a wealth of experience with the […]

You are invited to Southwest Wisconsin for a rich exploration of why small grains like wheat, barley, oats and rye matter.  Join us on Meadowlark Farm, Ridgeway, WI on Sunday, June 30, from 10:30 to 3:00.  Take Exit 52 off of US Hwy 18/151, then follow the signs to the nearby farm. We will tour […]

My sustainable agriculture story: Margaret Krome Margaret Krome joins a list of inspiring women in celebrating the collaborative spirit of women farmers, the sharing of ideas, and championing women farmers in the sustainable and organic farming movement.  Margaret she shares the inspiring story of her journey to becoming a national leader in sustainable agriculture policy.  […]

After six months of reviewing scores of applications, conducting formal phone interviews with seven candidates from every region of the nation and in-person interviews with four final candidates, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s Organizational Council announced last week that they unanimously voted to hire Sarah Hackney as NSAC’s new Coalition Director and that she has accepted.  […]

Donale joined MFAI’s Policy Program last month. He was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. His American mother, Jamaican father and Gambian step-father were all seasoned cooks, preparing traditional meals for the family and for large gatherings. With a rich cultural upbringing, Donale was always inspired by his parents and understanding the power of connecting […]

After volunteering with Badger Rock’s garden class in South Madison for some time, coordinators of the GULFS Program (Growing Urban Leaders in Food Systems) at MFAI worked with an incredible team at Badger Rock to co-develop a new lesson featuring Associate Policy Director Devon Hamilton’s culinary trip to Benin, West Africa. The lesson, entitled Food […]

As after every Farm Bill, USDA is in the process of developing the rules and processes for implementing programs authorized in the Farm Bill. Thus, we’re happy that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that farmers have until May 10, 2019, to sign up for an important voluntary “working lands” conservation program we’ve […]

Early last month, MFAI’s Associate Policy Director Devon Hamilton traveled on a life changing trip to Benin/Togo on a Black chef culinary tour hosted by chef, historian, and author Michael Twitty. This trip, the second of its kind, was organized by Roots to Glory Tours, a travel agency with a mission to connect Black people […]

Late last month, Associate Policy Director Devon Hamilton spoke on a panel about “Youth Empowerment through Social Justice and Food” at the 2019 Hunger & Health Summit in the Wisconsin Dells. He was joined by Nathan Larson of  Community Groundworks and the Wisconsin School Garden Network. The two spoke about how we come to define […]

Wisconsin farmers and landowners can apply now for a second round of USDA conservation funding. Angela Biggs, USDA-NRCS State Conservationist, announced farmers and forest landowners interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program need to apply by May 17, 2019, for funding in 2019.   Applications are being accepted at all USDA Service Centers in Wisconsin […]

MFAI is working with others in Wisconsin and elsewhere to explore the possibilities of creating a program in Wisconsin similar to one created in Iowa in 2017 that offers a crop insurance premium subsidy for farmers who plant cover crops.  We are circulating a very brief farmer survey to assess the value to farmers and […]