Gov. Evers Sends Letter Urging Wisconsin Congressional Delegation to Support Reauthorizing Federal Farm Bill, Fix Harmful Federal Hemp Laws

• Specialty crop and organic agriculture programs, including the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, which support research, innovation, market development, and producer competitiveness; 
• Trade, local food, and supply chain investments, including the Market Access Program, which expands domestic and international markets for Wisconsin producers and strengthens local food systems; 
• Farmer assistance and risk management programs, including the Certified Mediation Program, which provides critical financial counseling and dispute resolution services for producers; 
• Dairy support programs, including the Dairy Business Innovation and Dairy Margin Coverage programs, which help dairy farmers diversify, manage market volatility, and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Wisconsin’s dairy industry; 
• Conservation and watershed protection programs, including the Conservation Reserve Program and subprograms, which help improve soil health, protect wildlife habitat, reduce nutrient runoff, and strengthen climate resilience; 
• Water quality and source water protection initiatives, including the “Grassroots” Source Water Protection Program and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D-Wisconsin) Healthy H2O Act, to safeguard drinking water, support private well owners, and help communities address PFAS, nitrate contamination, and other emerging water quality challenges; 
• Forestry and forest health programs, including the Forest Service’s Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources Program, Statewide Forest Action Plans, and Good Neighbor Authority partnerships, which support healthy working forests, sustainable forest management, and long-term partnerships between Wisconsin and the Forest Service; and 
• Plant and animal health programs, including the Plant Pest and Disease Management and Disaster Prevention Program, which strengthen disease prevention, biosecurity, and the resilience of Wisconsin agriculture. 

Additionally, as outlined in the letter, Gov. Evers emphasized the need for revision of the new restrictive federal hemp law passed by Congress at the end of last year, either within the Farm Bill or in additional legislation. The governor expressed in his letter, and in a previous letter earlier this year, that if Congress does not revise the new federal hemp laws, it is projected to jeopardize $700 million in economic impact and nearly 3,500 jobs in Wisconsin, as well as the growing sector of legitimate hemp businesses and producers across the state. The new federal definition, which is set to take effect in November 2026, sets the legal limit of THC in final hemp-derived cannabinoid products at 0.4 milligrams per container, ultimately causing many existing lawful products to be reclassified in a manner that effectively eliminates existing business models, forcing closures, layoffs, and lost investment. The impacts of the new federal hemp bill will be further intensified in Wisconsin due to the fact that Wisconsin has not yet legalized medical or recreational marijuana, despite multiple attempts by Gov. Evers to do so.

The need to revise the federal hemp law is also critical to the state’s agricultural economy, as the growing of hemp has become a strong diversification option for Wisconsin farmers, and as of November 2025, Wisconsin had 470 federally licensed hemp producers. Without timely federal legislative action, Wisconsin producers may be forced to abandon hemp cultivation altogether, resulting in lost income and diminished economic opportunities, especially in rural communities.

Gov. Evers’ letter to every member of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation is attached.