Midwest Mid-Session Legislative Update: Growing Opportunities in Wisconsin

Since January, AFT has been planting seeds for improved agricultural policy across the Midwest. This blog is part of a three-part series spotlighting our work in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Read on to learn what we’ve been up to in Wisconsin, what we’re working on now, and an action you can take to support better food and farm policy in your state!

Wisconsin Legislative Agenda

AFT is advocating for two key legislative priorities this session that would advance farmland protection and soil health across Wisconsin:

Securing Funding for the Purchase of Agricultural Easements (PACE) Program (AB50 / SB45) - PACE is a proven tool for permanently protecting Wisconsin’s working farmland — but it has remained unfunded since 2011. Governor Evers’ proposed budget includes $15 million to revive the program. The budget now rests with the Joint Finance Committee (JFC), and AFT is actively working to ensure this critical investment makes it into the final biennial budget.

Launch a Transition to Grazing Pilot Program (AB118 / SB113) - This legislation would launch a pilot program to help farmers shift to forage-based grazing systems. By providing financial support, infrastructure funding, and hands-on technical assistance, the program would empower producers to adopt grazing practices that improve soil health and water quality — while maintaining profitable, resilient farm businesses.

Advocacy in Action

The Wisconsin AFT team has been working in tandem with farmland advocates to educate lawmakers and engage the public, building momentum behind PACE funding. Our partners across land trusts, municipalities, and farmer advocacy organizations have come together to create a powerful coalition in support of this critical investment in Wisconsin farmland protection.

Most recently, AFT co-hosted a legislative information session at the State Capitol with Representative Travis Tranel, focused on the urgent need to address farmland loss in Wisconsin. Farmers Kyle Zweig and Dick Cates kindly shared their personal experience protecting their farms under easements, demonstrating the on-the-ground benefits of farmland protection. Lawmakers and staff attended to learn how agricultural conservation easements can serve as a powerful tool to keep farmland in production for future generations.

You can watch the presentation here and read more about the event here. 

AFT  also mobilized farmland advocates to speak up at Joint Finance Committee Public Listening Sessions, held across the state to gather input on budget priorities. These sessions are a critical opportunity to advocate directly for farmland protection funding.

There are still two remaining sessions:

• April 28 – Hayward High School Auditorium.

• April 29 – Northcentral Technical College, Wausau.

If you are interested in attending, reach out to AFT’s Midwest Farmland Associate, Floreal Crubaugh at [email protected] and AFT’s Midwest Senior Farmland Program Manager, Angie Doucette at [email protected] for our Listening Session Tips & Tricks toolkit!

Take Action: Fund our State’s Pace Program

There are still plenty of ways to get involved and support farmland protection in Wisconsin. Here are three easy steps:

1. Sign the Petition: Show your support for a $15 million investment in Wisconsin’s farmland by signing our petition — and share it with someone who cares about the future of agriculture in our state.

2. Submit Testimony: Use our testimony template to draft your own comments on the importance of PACE funding. Share your thoughts with the Joint Finance Committee by pasting comments into the Public Comment Form or emailing a PDF to [email protected].

3. Call Your Legislators: Contact your State Representative and Senator to share why farmland protection matters to you. Ask them to support including $15 million for the PACE program in the final state budget.

You can find your legislators here: https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/

Interested in what we’re up to in Illinois and Indiana?