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 […]

“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. […]

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 […]

Starting October 1, the Institute has been pleased to have our Policy Director, Margaret Krome, recruited to serve as Interim Coalition Director for the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, headquartered in Washington, D.C. “NSAC’s work is deeply important to our nation and our world,” says Krome. “Supporting its superb staff, working with NSAC’s Organizational Council and […]

Do you have a sustainable agriculture project in mind that just needs a little funding to get off the ground? The Wisconsin SARE Program mini-grant program may be your answer. The deadline to apply for this cycle of mini-grants is Wednesday, February 20th, 2019. You can find the application form and information about the mini-grants […]

MADISON – Farmers and businesses involved in Wisconsin’s food industry who are seeking to grow their local markets are encouraged to apply for 2019 Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin producer and processor grants. Managed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), the grants can help farms and business more efficiently produce, process, […]

with Margaret Krome, MFAI, and Paul Wolfe, NSAC The Our Farms, Our Future podcast series brings together the sustainable agriculture community for thought-provoking conversations about the state of agriculture, how we got here, and where we’re headed. This podcast and the others in the series are available here

As part of the work Margaret Krome leads at NSAC (above), we are pleased to circulate the job announcement for NSAC’s permanent Coalition Director position.

After what can only be called a contentious process and protracted hiatus, the 2018 Farm Bill passed both houses last week and was sent to the President for signing, which he was expected to do, as of this writing. Overall, given the extreme political conditions under which it was negotiated, given the extremely bad House […]

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s industrial hemp research pilot program requires both growers and processors to obtain one-time licenses, and register each year that they intend to plant/process industrial hemp. DATCP has extended the deadline to apply for 2019 licenses and registrations through March 1, 2019. More information on licensing, registrations […]

Producers with expiring Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will have the opportunity to renew their contracts in 2019, even though the program is not currently authorized under a farm bill. Contract holders must sign contract modifications by the end of this year to be eligible. NRCS CSP […]