TUE AM News: Dem bill would create tax credit for beginning farmers; Xcel Energy touting approval of transmission line project

November 4, 2025

— Legislation being circulated by Dem lawmakers would create a $5 million annual tax credit program for early-career farmers, helping to offset the cost of acquiring land and other farming assets.

Sen. Mark Spreitzer of Beloit and Rep. Jenna Jacobson of Oregon recently sent a co-sponsorship memo to other lawmakers on the Farming Forward Program. They say the state’s tradition of family farms is being threatened as farmers are aging and the number of farms and amount of farmland are on the decline.

The memo notes the average age of a Wisconsin farmer is 56.7 years based on the latest agricultural census from 2022, and the number of farmers aged 55-74 years is more than double the number of those ages 25-44.

Meanwhile, the number of Wisconsin farms dropped 16% between 2011 and 2021 while total farm acreage in the state fell by more than 5%, according to the memo.

“Farmers across Wisconsin have shared that one of the biggest hurdles to continuing and strengthening our agricultural legacy is expensive startup costs,” authors wrote, adding “many farmers who are looking to retire rely on income from selling or leasing the farm to fund their retirement, and may not be able to afford to sell or lease their land at a discount to a beginning farmer.”

Under their bill, the program would provide a 5% refundable income tax credit for both beginning farmers — defined as having a net worth below $200,000 and less than a decade of farming experience — and those who lease or sell assets to a beginning farmer. These could include agricultural land or machinery, equipment, facilities or livestock used in farming.

Beginning farmers could also claim a 5% tax credit for improvements on land and facilities.

The tax credit would be capped at $75,000 per taxable year, and could be claimed for up to three years per asset if it’s being leased. The program would be limited to $5 million per year in total tax credits.

The bill also lays out the process for claiming the credit, under which the beginning farmer and asset owner would have to submit an application to DATCP. This includes the early-career farmer’s business plan, information on education and training, and farming experience.

“Providing refundable tax credits to beginning farmers for assets or improvements ensures that they have the opportunity and capital needed to begin, maintain, and develop a farm,” bill authors wrote.

At the same time, they say offering these credits to established farmers would help incentivize them to sell or rent assets at a more affordable rate.

Spreitzer says family farms and agriculture are “central to Wisconsin’s heritage” as well as the state economy.

“Wisconsin’s farmers bolster our economy and feed our families, and we as a legislature should be doing all we can to support our current farmers, as well as the next generation,” he said in a statement on the bill.

The co-sponsorship deadline is Nov. 14.

See the bill text and release.

— Xcel Energy says its newly approved 80-mile transmission line project will be a “key step” for connecting and fortifying the state’s electric grid.

The utility company yesterday announced the state Public Service Commission has allowed the Western Wisconsin Transmission Connection to proceed, clearing the way for the company to start detailed design and engineering for the project and negotiating easements with landowners.

Construction on the transmission line is expected to begin next year with service starting in 2029. It will bridge several substations in the region, connecting through Chippewa, Clark, Eau Claire and Trempealeau counties.

The transmission line project is part of the MISO Long-Range Transmission Planning Tranche 1 portfolio, according to an overview from the PSC. Project partners say the line will allow for interconnection of new renewable energy sources as fossil fuel assets are being retired. The project is also expected to reduce load on facilities in northern and northwestern Wisconsin.

Xcel Energy notes the WWTC line will connect with other transmission lines being developed in southern Minnesota as well as parts of western and central Wisconsin.

See more in the release.

— Dairyland Power Cooperative has acquired two natural gas plants in Illinois, the La Crosse-based organization announced.

The co-op bought the Elgin Energy Center in Elgin and the Rocky Road facility in East Dundee from global investment firm Avenue Capital Group. They’ve been operated by Middle River Power, an private equity-backed investment and asset management firm.

The move follows the co-op earlier this year announcing a wholesale power supply contract with Norris Electric Cooperative in Illinois effective June 2026, the announcement shows. Dairyland also serves JCE Co-op in Illinois.

Brent Ridge, president and CEO for Dairyland, says the acquisitions were “essential to position Dairyland to meet the growing resource adequacy and reliability needs” of its rural customers.

See the release.

— The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development says it will need an additional $4.6 million in state funds over the coming weeks or it will be forced to create a waitlist for those with disabilities seeking help finding and keeping a job.

The agency didn’t say in its announcement whether it planned to submit a request to the Joint Finance Committee for additional funding, and a DWD spokesperson didn’t immediately have a comment.

Dem Gov. Tony Evers requested a boost of $3.2 million in general purpose revenue in the first year of the budget and nearly $4.7 million in the second year for the program.

Instead, the Legislature put in an additional $1.9 million in GPR for each year of the biennium to draw down the federal money that was needed to cover existing caseloads. Still, DWD warned at the time that without additional state funds beyond that, the agency would be unable to match additional federal allotments that could become available, which would “may constrain DVR in their provision of vocational rehabilitation services given the recent increases in caseloads and costs,” the Legislative Fiscal Bureau noted in its paper on the program.

The LFB summary noted the number of people the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation served increased 27.6% from 18,280 in 2022-23 to an estimated 23,321 in 2024-25. The average cost per person, meanwhile, increased 9.5% from $2,759 in 2022-23 to $3,022 in 2024-25.

DWD said a driving factor was the increase in the number of services received by each person in the program.

DWD said without additional state money, those who are currently on an individualized plan would continue to receive services. But those who don’t have a plan yet would be put on a waitlist; there are currently about 2,000 people who fall in that category. DWD said it sees roughly 1,000 new people per month, and they would be waitlisted as well.

The offices of the Joint Finance Committee co-chairs didn’t immediately return requests for comment.

— Nearly two-dozen representatives of Japanese companies will be in Wisconsin this week as part of an organized visit focused on the biohealth sector.

WEDC yesterday announced the delegates from 19 Japanese businesses represent medical device manufacturers, R&D organizations, health care startups and more. Participants will join a business matching and networking program, and delegates will visit Exact Sciences, Promega, GE HealthCare, the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin.

The visit, taking place tomorrow through Friday, was organized by the Japan External Trade Organization, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and the Japan America Society of Wisconsin.

See more details in the release.

— Dr. Imran Adrabi, president and CEO of Froedtert ThedaCare, has been chosen as chair-elect for the Wisconsin Hospital Association Board of Directors.

WHA announced Andrabi will serve as the board’s chair-elect in 2026, while Door County Medical Center President and CEO Brian Stephens will be chair. The release also notes six new members were chosen to join the board starting next year.

Andrabi says his selection represents “a great honor and great responsibility.”

“The people of Wisconsin turn to our health systems as their trusted partners in health and well-being … I am humbled to serve as Chair-elect of WHA for 2026, as together we strive to enhance easy access to high-quality care for the betterment of our communities.” he said in a statement.

See the release.

Top headlines from the Health Care Report…

— UnityPoint Health – Meriter has opened a new training center at its Madison hospital focused on newborn care.

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