Central Wisconsin News

Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin's 7th District reintroduced the Future Agriculture Retention and Management Act, known as the FARM Act. The proposed legislation aims to eliminate taxpayer-funded energy incentives that encourage solar and wind installations on agricultural lands, which often results in farmland being taken out of production.

"Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be used to sacrifice farmland for green energy boondoggles. The FARM Act ends corporate welfare for unreliable energy sources and ensures agricultural land is protected for future generations," stated Congressman Tiffany.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. farmland acreage has decreased by over 20 million acres between 2017 and 2022. During this period, all but five states—Alaska, Iowa, Maryland, New Jersey, and Rhode Island—experienced a loss of farms.

Congressman Tiffany has received feedback from constituents concerned about the reduction of farmland. The FARM Act seeks to protect family farms for future generations by saving American farmland and ensuring long-term food security without forcing taxpayers to fund "green energy" projects that reduce agricultural land.

The act does not prohibit developers from constructing wind turbines or solar panels but restricts taxpayer funds from favoring such developments over food production. A report by the Office of Tax Analysis at the Treasury Department indicates that renewable subsidies for wind and solar are projected to cost taxpayers $424.6 billion over the next decade.

The FARM Act is cosponsored by three members of Congress: Representatives Ben Cline (VA-06), Warren Davidson (OH-08), and Roger Williams (TX-25).