MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address Thursday on his 2023-25 biennial budget investments to support Wisconsin’s agricultural industries. More information on the governor’s agricultural budget investments is available here.

Audio File of Radio Address.

Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.

Wisconsin’s agricultural industry is core to our culture, heritage, and economy—it’s our past and our present, and it will be critical for our future, too.

I’m proud we’ve directed $100 million to support Wisconsin farmers in all 72 counties through the Wisconsin Farm Support Program.

And I’ve been proud to sign legislation and support initiatives that advance our state’s agricultural export program and help bolster the long-term viability of this industry, including projects like the Dairy Innovation Hub and the development of the brand-new Center for Dairy Research at UW-Madison.

And now, my 2023-25 budget builds on this work by making significant investments to support rural Wisconsin farmers and farm families, processors, and the state’s supply chain.

This includes an additional $1.6 million for grants to improve or expand meat processing operations, an additional $600,000 for grants to improve or expand dairy processing facilities, $1 million annually to increase the value of Wisconsin agricultural exports by 2026, and $200,000 for DATCP’s farmer mental health assistance programming, including a 24-hour helpline and telehealth services.

We’re also making several investments to continue our work supporting producer-led watershed and conservation efforts by providing $3.6 million to continue the nitrogen optimization and cover crop insurance rebate programs, an additional $500,000 for producer-led watershed protection grants, and $7 million for the Soil and Water Resource Management program.

Supporting Wisconsin’s farmers is part of our DNA, and we’ll keep working to support our farmers, our agricultural industries, and our rural communities that have been the backbone of our state and our economy for generations.