News

Jan 13, 2012

MVC receives conservation easement on 160-acre Crawford County farm

A conservation easement on an 160-acre Crawford County farm adds to the lands protected by conservation easements administered by the Mississippi Valley Conservancy in the Kickapoo River Valley, a priority area for the La Crosse-based land trust.

Full Article at Vernon County Broadcaster

Dec 2, 2011

Growing Power: NCAA honors WIll Allen, CEO of Growing Power, with Roosevelt Award

Will Allen, the CEO of Growing Power, Inc., has been awarded the Theodore Roosevelt award by the NCAA. Growing Power was started in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1993 as a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities.

Full Article at WisBusiness.com

Nov 16, 2011

More U.S. land conserved as parks, farms, nature areas

Despite a weak economy, more U.S. land is being voluntarily conserved as urban parks, family farms, forests, gardens and farmers' markets — a total of 10 million new acres since 2005, says a report from the Land Trust Alliance.

Full Article at USA Today

Oct 10, 2011

Editorial: Awards Remind Us Our Lives Depend on Our Land

Three-hundred-plus conservationists were out for Gathering Waters Conservancy’s awards reception. The award winners told their compelling stories, inspiring all. Writer Bill Berry shares his perspective on the event.

Full Article at The Capital Times

Oct 10, 2011

Bayfield Conservation Group Establishes Forestry Conservation Project

The Bayfield Regional Conservancy, with the Living Forest Coop, has set up a new forestry conservation project for educational and outreach purposes. The project allows individuals to contribute a tax-deductible donation to a conservancy fund in support of education initiatives led by the forest cooperative.

Full Article at The Ashland Current

Sep 4, 2011

Wisconsin Brothers Preserve Tradition on the Farm

Ernest Haugen, 90, and his brother Joseph, 86, still work the farm that their father purchased in 1925 in Coon Valley. The brothers have worked the land longer than any of their neighbors can remember. The Haugens have approached the Mississippi Valley Conservancy about putting the 160-acre farm into a conservation trust. Ernest doesn't want to see houses built on the ridge top or to see the terrace work torn out to accommodate a big-scale corn operation.

Full Article at Wisconsin Rapids Tribune

Jul 22, 2011

County Leader to be Honored with Nilsestuen Conservation Award

The Gathering Waters Conservancy has announced its first recipient of the Rod Nilsestuen Award for Working Lands Preservation. Alan Sweeney, who serves on the Rock County board of supervisors, will be honored for his work on agriculture land preservation later this fall.

Full Article at The Ag Connection

Jul 14, 2011

Opinion:  Budget compromise gives PACE a chance

Not everyone is going to like the compromise regarding the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easements program in the state budget, but that's the nature of compromises. Not everyone gets what they want. The budget as signed by Gov. Scott Walker last month keeps the PACE program on the books and orders a one-year study of the program by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Full Article at The Country Today

Jun 27, 2011

Partnership Project Aims to Improve Sheboygan River Area

Farmers, landowners and conservation professionals are teaming up in Sheboygan County next month to test a more efficient way to improve water quality in area streams. As part of the new Wisconsin Buffer Initiative, the local group will use science to target conservation practices on fields and pastures that have the greatest potential for contributing excess nutrients like phosphorous and nitrogen to the Sheboygan River.

Full Article at wisconsinagconnection.com

May 25, 2011

WFU Pleased with Preservation of PACE, Buy Local Programs

The leader of a Wisconsin farm organization says he is glad to see that the Legislative Joint Finance Committee voted to preserve the Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Programs in the Working Lands Initiative, and the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program. Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden says Democrats and Republicans on the panel came together to support the two programs, which he calls vital to the state's agricultural sector.

Full Article at The Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin