Conservation Technology Transfer

Recipient: University of Wisconsin- Extension
Amount Requested: $376,000
Location: Madison

Description: These resources are used in collaboration with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and local stakeholders to perform research, demonstration and education activities on working farms that help land managers adopt more effective conservation practices which manage nutrients and prevent runoff.


Nutrition Enhancement

Recipient: University of Wisconsin- Extension
Amount Requested: $950,000
Location: Madison

Description: Wisconsin has among the lowest school breakfast participation rates in the nation.  These funds are used in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Public Institutions to provide grants and educational support for local schools wishing to initiate and expand school breakfast.


Urban Horticulture

Recipient: University of Wisconsin- Extension
Amount Requested: $376,000
Location: Madison

Description:  These funds support education in urban horticulture and the development of new community food centers.  In collaboration with Growing Power, Inc. (a non-profit organization and land trust) they support training for volunteers who develop models for local food systems across the nation.


Institute for Sustainable Agriculture

Recipient: UW-Madison, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Amount Requested: $400,000
Location: Madison

Description: These resources will be used to expand teaching, applied research and outreach on sustainability.  The central objective is to help farmers manage their land and production in ways that align best practices with emerging energy opportunities and sustainability challenges.


Specialty Markets – Strengthening State Meat Inspection

Recipient: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection
Amount Requested: $350,000
Location: Madison

Description: The 2008 farm bill included provisions to allow interstate commerce in state-inspected meat products.  In this era of concentrated cattle processing, new markets are critical for producers.  With nearly 300 state-inspected processing plants, Wisconsin entrepreneurs are poised to meet growing demand for local and domestic specialty meat products.  These resources will be used to augment food safety excellence and training, provide technical assistance for market and business planning, and assist processors with packaging, label development, and marketing distribution.


Dairy Market Development – Value Added Dairy Initiative

Recipient:  Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Amount Requested: $2,000,000
Location: Madison

Description: This funding supports the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture’s Value Added Dairy initiative to help restore and reinvigorate Wisconsin’s dairy sector through modernization of diary farms, increased production of higher-value products, increased recognition of Wisconsin’s dairy products in consumer markets, enhanced supply chain management and innovative dairy partnerships.  Collaborators in this effort include the non-profit Dairy Business Innovation Center, the University of Wisconsin, Extension Service, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin State Department of Commerce, and the Wisconsin Technical College System.


Conservation Internships

Recipient: Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association
Amount Requested: $120,000
Location: Madison

Description: These resources support an internship program to give college students embarking on natural resource careers real world experience in natural resource management.


Conservation Technology Transfer

Recipient: University of Wisconsin- Extension
Amount Requested: $516,000
Location: Madison

Description: These resources are used in collaboration with UW Extension and local stakeholders to perform research, demonstration and education activities on working farms that help land managers adopt more effective conservation practices which manage nutrients and prevent runoff.


Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative

Recipient: United States Department of Agriculture
Amount Requested: $732,000
Location: Madison

Description: This funding supports research, on-farm demonstrations, education and technical services to support producers wishing to switch to a grazing system or enhance their existing systems.


Biofuel Supply Chain Development
 
Recipient: Cooperative Network
Amount Requested: $300,000
Location: Madison

Description: Creation of biomass aggregations systems will be necessary to transition from corn-based ethanol to cellulosic energy systems.  These funds would be used to develop locally-owned biomass aggregation and processing cooperatives to supply the biomass needs of energy generation. This project can serve as a national model to ensure that local producers and communities fully share in the benefits of our nascent cellulosic biomass economy.


Supper Pilot Program

Recipient:  Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Amount Requested: legislative modification to existing pilot program
Location: Madison

Description: The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides meals and snacks to about 3 million children nationwide per day.  A number of states are authorized under a pilot program to extend supper benefits to children ages 13 to 18.  This proposed legislative modification would add Wisconsin to the list of states eligible to do so.


Dairy Forage Research - Prairie du Sac

Recipient: USDA ARS, Dairy Forage Research Center
Amount Requested: $4,000,000
Location: Madison

Description: These resources would be set aside for construction of the next installment of ARS Dairy Forage Research Center in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin.  The research conducted by this unit of ARS is aimed at improving the efficiency and environmental impact of dairy farming in the United States.


Dairy Forage Research Center -Marshfield

Recipient: USDA ARS, Dairy Forage Research Center
Amount Requested:  $2,500,000
Location:  Madison

Description: These resources would pay salaries and expenses related to research at the Dairy Forage Research Center in Marshfield, WI.  The research conducted by this unit of ARS is aimed at improving the efficiency and environmental impact of dairy farming in the United States.


Cranberry Research
 
Recipient:  United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Amount Requested: $3,000,000
Location: Washington, DC

Description: The 2008 Farm Bill authorized research grants to study new technologies to assist cranberry growers in complying with federal and state environmental regulations, increase production, develop growing techniques, establish more efficient growing methodologies and educate growers about sustainable growth practices.  These resources would pay salaries and expenses for research and support staff to carry out these activities.