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Starting a Farmer-Led Watershed Council



A recent pasture walk in the Hay River Watershed.

A farmer-led watershed council is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a group of farmers, landowners, and partners who get together to learn about and implement changes on their farmland that can improve the local watershed, with decisions made by the farmers.


What do councils do? They hold field events, host farmer meetings, conduct field trials, and manage incentive programs for practices they deem effective in improving farm health and reducing pollution.


What does it take to form a council? Any farmer can start a “council” by convening a few farmers and starting a conversation on soil health. Many groups host field days and meetings at no cost other than their (considerable) time, and they are able to promote a wider culture of conservation and collaboration between local farmers. However, it is often easier to find speakers, attract new members, and receive assistance from agencies if you have an official name and mission.


But to be an official council eligible for Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) funding, you need at least five farmers and a “collaborating entity” that can assist the group. Common collaborating entities are county Land and Water Conservation Departments, but some councils choose other groups to partner with, such as an industry group or even a local lake association. A good partner can act as the fiscal administrator for the group and should have some working knowledge of the ag sector as well as the capacity to devote time to group meetings and projects.


Why Become an Official Group? Keeping up long-term investment in a group can be very hard to do with just potlucks and field visits. All successful groups I’ve seen require some financial resources. DATCP’s Producer-Led Watershed Group program offers grants to groups that apply for up to $40,000/year. Other groups receive funding from non-profits, lake associations, or even incorporate membership fees to support their cause. Having an official group is a good way to build momentum, connect with new farmers, share resources, and have an organized voice to represent farming when community matters arise. Funding applications are due annually in mid-September. Grants are competitive, and groups usually receive far less than they apply for.


How do you determine who can join a group? Every farmer-led council is slightly different. Some groups are made up solely of row crop farmers, while most include a mix of dairy, row crop, and beef farmers. Most groups define a particular watershed around a water body they’d like to protect. For example, the Red Cedar Conservation Farmers accept membership from farmers in the Red Cedar watershed. Being farmer-led, groups should primarily include farmers, but non-operating landowners and agricultural professionals also often get involved. Some groups extend beyond a single watershed boundary and focus on a region, such as the Western Wisconsin Conservation Council. It's also possible to create a group focused on a specific type of producer. In central Wisconsin, for example, there are several groups near each other, but one focuses on canned vegetable producers, while another focuses on beef farmers. Who becomes involved and the group’s focus is entirely determined by its members.


This informal summary was written by Tara Greiman, Director of Conservation & Stewardship for the Wisconsin Farmers Union. Tara has worked with Farmer-Led Watershed Councils in northwestern Wisconsin since 2021. The Wisconsin Farmers Union directly supports several farmer-led councils and has encouraged the state to support their formation for over a decade. Although WFU does not currently have staff capacity to coordinate more groups, Tara can answer questions and provide guidance. tgreiman@wisconsinfarmersunion.com | 715-492-0329


More information on the state Producer-Led Watershed Group program is available on DATCP’s website: https://datcp.wi.gov/pages/programs_services/producerledprojects.aspx


One group of councils in northwestern Wisconsin shares a webpage: www.farmerledwatershed.org and can be found on Facebook @farmerledwatershed


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