Wisconsin farmers provide the world with food, and many family farmers were already struggling before the outbreak of the coronavirus.

EVANSVILLE, WI - State Senator Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) thanked Governor Evers for his initiative to provide direct payments to Wisconsin farmers who are struggling to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wisconsin Farm Support Program is a $50 million investment to provide direct aid payments to struggling family farmers.

“I support Governor Evers’ effort to help struggling farmers during this crisis,” Senator Ringhand said. “We need to get these payment to those farmers and help rural communities throughout the state.”

Governor Evers also announced a $15 million Food Security Initiative which will help food banks, pantries, and other nonprofit organizations connect with farmers to bring Wisconsin agricultural products to those in need. The Food Security Initiative is designed to directly help Wisconsin farmers, food pantries and families.

“Wisconsin farmers provide the world with nutritious and delicious food,” Senator Ringhand added. “The Food Security Initiative will help local farmers get their products to families in need right here in Wisconsin.”

The Wisconsin Farm Support Program and Food Security Initiative are the latest programs advanced by Governor Evers as part of federal CARES Act. In addition to these initiatives, Governor Evers has announced a $1 billion effort for COVID-19 testing, contact tracing and bolstering our health system’s effort to contain further outbreaks of the virus, $75 million in grants for small businesses and $25 million for the Wisconsin Rent Assistance Program (WRAP) to help low-income people who have lost their jobs pay the rent.