Proposals Designed To Help Struggling Wisconsin Farmers

Three proposals designed to help Wisconsin’s struggling farmers pay off college debt, encourage diverse operations and plan for retirement are being circulated in the state Legislature.

The measures unveiled Tuesday are sponsored by Democrats but have bipartisan support, increasing their chances of being considered by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

One bill would fund two positions within the University of Wisconsin System to help farmers create succession plans for passing down their operations to younger family members.

Another proposal would provide up to $30,000 over five years toward higher education debt payments for college graduates who have been farming less than 10 years.

Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, who is sponsoring the bill, said the state needs to do what it can to make sure the next generation of Wisconsin farmers can succeed financially.

“There are enough challenges right now, especially in our current farming climate, to creating a financially viable farm without the added burden of student loan debt on top of that,” he said.

Spreitzer compared the proposal to existing loan assistance programs for teachers and health care workers.

“There’s been a real movement lately to say that farming is public service, that farming matters to our state and our country and we need to make sure that the next generation of farmers is coming along and is able to make it financially,” he said.

A third proposal would create a competitive grant program that would award grants of up to $50,000 for small-scale farming operations no larger than 50 acres. That program would support agricultural start-ups and existing farms looking to add an additional crop to their operations.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated with additional reporting from WPR.