Business Briefs

Grants boost food markets
Wisconsin farmers and food businesses have until Sept. 15 to apply for Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grants totaling up to $200,000 statewide.
The competitive grant program helps farms and businesses process, market and distribute locally grown food products more efficiently. Projects can receive $5,000 to $50,000 over three years, with recipients required to provide matching funds equal to at least 50% of the total project budget.
Eligible applicants include individuals, groups or businesses involved in Wisconsin production agriculture, food processing, food distribution, food warehousing, retail food establishments or agricultural tourism operations.
Since 2008, the program has funded 128 projects totaling over $3.22 million. Previous recipients have generated over $14.7 million in new local food sales and created or retained more than 540 jobs. Grant information is available at: datcp.wi.gov/Pages/BuyLocalBuy WisconsinGrants.aspx

Apply for dairy grant
MADISON — Wisconsin dairy processors have until Sept. 17 to apply for state grants designed to foster innovation and improve profitability at processing facilities.
The Dairy Processor Grant program provides up to $50,000 per project for food safety improvements, staff training, plant expansion or modernization and professional consulting services. Recipients must provide a 20% match of the grant amount.
Gov. Tony Evers and the legislature increased annual funding for the grants to $600,000 in the 2025-27 biennial budget due to the program’s success. Eligible applicants must operate a licensed dairy processing plant in Wisconsin engaged in pasteurizing, processing or manufacturing milk or dairy products.
Since 2014, the program has funded 135 projects totaling $3.2 million. Applications are available at: datcp.wi.gov/Pages/AgDevelopment/DairyProcessorGrants.aspx

Corn fungus spreading
Tar spot, a fungal disease that can cause significant corn yield losses, has been confirmed in 18 Wisconsin counties this growing season as part of a broader spread across 13 of the top 18 corn-growing states.
The disease, first detected in Illinois and Indiana in 2015, can cause yield losses of up to 50 bushels per acre in severe cases. Syngenta agronomist Nick Groth told Successful Farming that “late season diseases such as tar spot, northern corn leaf blight, and southern rust are probably the biggest remaining threat to the Wisconsin corn crop.”
The disease appears as small, raised black spots on corn leaves that cannot be rubbed off. It thrives in moderate temperatures, high humidity and prolonged leaf wetness.
USDA rated Wisconsin’s corn crop 1% very poor, 3% poor, 15% fair, 57% good, and 24% excellent for the week ended Aug. 3. University of Wisconsin Extension Field Crops Pathologist Damon Smith advises farmers to scout fields starting at the V8 growth stage, with fungicide applications between the VT and R3 growth stages if needed.