MADISON – The Farm Center at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is part of a new 12-state effort aimed at providing education, resources and support to farmers, agriculture service professionals and mental health care providers to mitigate farm stress and reduce suicide risk in rural communities. The multi-state initiative, led regionally by the University of Illinois and Illinois Extension, is supported by a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Over several years, the $7.2 million award will create and expand project-wide access to financial,

MADISON – Today, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released its audit of state recycling programs administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) as report 20-21. In report 20-22, which was also released today, LAB identified 15 best practices that local recycling programs can use to comply with state recycling laws and improve the administration of their programs. DNR administers two recycling programs that award grants to cover a portion of the recycling program costs of responsible units, which are generally municipalities and counties. In fiscal year (FY) 2019-20, $20 million was

A Wisconsin Army National Guard engineer detachment returned safely to U.S. soil last week after a 10-month mobilization to Kuwait. The Milwaukee-based 924th Engineer Facilities Detachment returned to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they will spend several weeks completing demobilization requirements before returning home to Wisconsin. The 14-Soldier unit mobilized in January and deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, where it functioned as the sprawling base’s department of public works. The unit overcame significant challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic as it managed the daily functions of a major base in the Middle East. The 924th returns amidst a historic period for

Wisconsin Public Education Network partners around the state have high praise and appreciation for the 2021-2023 budget proposal submitted by Superintendent of Public Instruction Carolyn Stanford Taylor to Governor Evers this week. From north to south, urban, rural and suburban parents, advocates, board members, and administrators praised the budget for responding directly to the immediate needs Wisconsin’s students face at this challenging time. “This is the leadership students need,” said Milwaukee Public Schools board member Megan O’Halloran. “Sadly, too many children across this state have paid the price for years of divestment from urban and rural communities. We are called,

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public input regarding proposed revisions to its Broad Incidental Take Permit and Authorization for No and Low Impact Activities. A number of activities that have no or low impact on endangered or threatened plants and animals are covered by this broad incidental take permit and authorization. Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the overall population of the species at risk. The Broad Incidental Take Permit and Authorization for No and Low Impact Activities was initially approved in

MADISON, Wis. – As families and friends plan Thanksgiving arrangements this year, the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing some to make difficult decisions. Discussing those decisions with family can be challenging. Many people are grappling with whether to host family or friends they haven’t seen in months or if they should travel to visit family who asked them to attend Thanksgiving gatherings, according to Shanda Wells, behavioral health specialist, UW Health. “The emotions connected to these situations are very difficult to manage because on one hand, we love our families and want to see them, but on the other we want