HO-CHUNK FARMS MADE A RECORD FARMLAND LEASE PAYOUT OF NEARLY $1.4 MILLION TO THE WINNEBAGO TRIBE AND TRIBAL MEMBERS LAST MONTH.
THE TRIBE RECEIVED OVER $946,67O DOLLARS FOR LEASING 3,417 ACRES TO HO-CHUNK FARMS WHILE TRIBAL MEMBERS RECEIVED $430,020 AFTER IT LEASED 1,870 ACRES TO THE AGRICULTURAL ENTITY.
HO-CHUNK FARMS WAS STARTED IN 2012 TO INCREASE TRIBAL AGRICULTURAL LAND VALUES.
THE TRIBAL FARMLAND IS LEASED TO THE PUBLIC IN A BID PROCESS MANAGED BY THE BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND TRIBAL LAND MANAGEMENT.
LEASES HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN LESS THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE AND TRIBAL POLICY ALLOWS HO-CHUNK FARMS TO MATCH ANY HIGH BID.
HO-CHUNK FARMS MANAGES ABOUT 6,000 ACRES AND OF THOSE, MORE THAN 800 ACRES ARE USDA CERTIFIED ORGANIC WHILE ANOTHER 130 ACRES ARE IN TRANSITION.
Photo courtesy Ho-Chunk
