New Opportunities for Kenosha County Farmers
Kenosha’s First Producer-led Watershed Protection Group
Kenosha County sits between two large metropolitan areas - Chicago and Milwaukee. Because of the jobs in these places, Kenosha has experienced a large increase in housing demand, development and population growth. With this blessing, there is a curse of increased impervious surfaces where water has no place to go. Additionally, Kenosha County farmers make up less than 1% of the total population and manage roughly half of the county’s land.* This showcases the impressive impact each farmer has on the watershed! More perennial agriculture in Kenosha County will reduce agricultural runoff into our watersheds and create open spaces where water can go and be recycled into the land, plants and ecosystem.
*Data sourced from the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension.
A Sustainable Approach to Food Production
Conventional agriculture earns ~14 cents for every dollar spent on food. Because of this, only the largest farmers can earn a living leaving smaller-sized family farms struggling. Furthermore, while less than 1% of food grown by Kenosha County farmers is sold and eaten locally, 100% of farming externalities are left for Kenosha County residents to address and handle.*
Through the Kenosha County Regenerative Producers Group, consumers will connect with local watershed farmers and learn how to support products that strengthen our local food system and protect local water quality. This cycle of awareness and support will leverage and grow the outreach of the program.
By adding value through rotational grazing and regenerative practices and engaging directly with customers through the local food system, farmers can earn more of the consumer’s dollar. Everyone benefits- consumers get a healthy local product, the farmer’s share is increased, nutrients are kept on the farm and dollars get recirculated locally, effectively rebuilding a bridge between rural and urban Wisconsinites.
Most importantly, through the practice of regenerative agriculture, we lower our carbon footprint while the land, water, soil and animals all excel and improve in their ecosystem.
*Data sourced from the University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension.
Data for the total amount sold from the 2017 Census of Agriculture County Profile.
“The farmer is the only man in our economy who buys everything at retail, sells everything at wholesale, and pays the freight both ways.”
— President John F. Kennedy
The Five Pillars of Regenerative Agriculture
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Increase Biodiversity of Plants, Animals and Soil Microbes
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Minimize Soil Disturbances
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Eliminate or Reduce Synthetic (Chemical) Inputs
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Use of Grazing Livestock
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Keep Soil Covered with Living Roots and Decomposing Plants