UW-Madison has received $9.3M from the USDA to establish a Rural Partnerships Institute. The 4-year award to UW-Madison will cover the costs of financing the Wisconsin State Climatology Office through CCR, the costs of a new state mesonet led by Chris Kucharik and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, and rural outreach initiatives led by the Division of Extension. CCR’s portion of the funds, just over $1M, will be dedicated to supporting and expanding the Wisconsin State Climatology Office. As of this month, Steve Vavrus will be assuming the position of Wisconsin State Climatologist.
Related links about the whole partnership can be found below.
https://www.wpr.org/usda-federal-grant-rural-weather-soil-monitoring-network-aid-wisconsin-farmers