DE PERE (NBC 26) — Like many, the coronavirus pandemic took a toll on Wisconsin farmers, now there’s more help available to them survive.
“It was a terrible hit for us, we lost a good third of our income,” said De Pere farmer Raymond Diederich.
Diederich is not the only one to take a financial hit due to the pandemic. But he said they're making it through quite well compared to others.
“Our feed supply came, our workers came and our product got moved to market,” he said.
Still, money lost needs to be found. Starting Monday, June 15, Wisconsin farmers will have an extra opportunity for a little more income.
“The future looks a lot better. The government aid we're getting is going to help us survive,” he added.
The Wisconsin Farm Support Program will begin accepting applications. This is a federally funded program to provide relief for farmers who've suffered financially due to the virus. It's expected to help more than 26,000 farms across the state; grants ranging from $1,000-3,500.
“The money we got out of federal government was a whole lot more financially. The state’s money is a good token; I wish they would have used the money to help us move the product instead of getting the direct dollars.”
But Diederich adds, any little bit helps, as the money farmers will receive, will end up right back in local communities, helping us move forward.
“I think it’s really important going forward to take what we learn and make it better.”
There are a few things you’ll need to apply, like your 2019 federal tax return. For more information about the program, click here.
