Amendment AA5-ASA2-AB68

AB68-ASA2-AA5,169m Section 169m. 28.11 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,31,18 28.11 (8) (a) Acreage payments. As soon after April 20 of each year as feasible, the department shall pay to each town treasurer 30 63 cents per acre, based on the acreage of such lands as of the preceding June 30, as a grant out of the appropriation made by s. 20.370 (5) (bv) on each acre of county lands entered under this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,31,19 122. Page 334, line 6: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,31,20 “ Section 334g. 91.10 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,31,22 91.10 (title) County plan required; planning and implementation grants.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,334r Section 334r. 91.10 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,3 91.10 (7) (a) From the appropriations under s. 20.115 (7) (dm) and (tm), the department may award implementation grants to counties for implementing a county's certified farmland preservation plan.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,7 (b) The department shall enter into a contract with a county to which it awards a planning grant under par. (a) before the department distributes any grant funds to the county. In the contract, the department shall identify the costs that are eligible for reimbursement through the grant.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,10 (c) The department may distribute grant funds under this subsection only after the county shows that it has incurred costs that are eligible for reimbursement under par. (b).”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,11 123. Page 334, line 6: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,12 “ Section 334m. 93.01 (14m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,18 93.01 (14m) “Regenerative agricultural practice” means an agricultural management technique designed to build soil health and crop resiliency, improve water and nutrient retention, or sequester carbon, primarily by managing the organic matter content of soil. “Regenerative agricultural practice” includes diversifying crop rotations and using no-till planting, managed grazing, cover cropping, and composting.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,19 124. Page 334, line 7: delete lines 7 to 10.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,20 125. Page 334, line 10: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,32,21 “ Section 335f. 93.525 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,33,3 93.525 Meat processing tuition grants. (1) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (3) (f), the department shall provide grants to universities, colleges, and technical colleges located in this state that have programs in meat processing to reimburse tuition costs of students enrolled in a meat processing program. The department shall coordinate with the higher educational aids board in providing grants under this section.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,33,6 (2) Each tuition reimbursement made with a grant received under this section shall reimburse a student for not more than 80 percent of the first $9,375 of the tuition cost for enrolling in a meat processing program.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,33,7 126. Page 334, line 10: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,33,8 “ Section 335b. 93.425 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,33,11 93.425 Wisconsin initiative for agricultural exports. (1) The department shall establish and administer an agricultural exports program to promote the export of this state's agricultural and agribusiness products.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,33,16 (2) In establishing and administering the program under this section, not more than 50 percent of the funds from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (3) (d) may be used for promoting dairy product exports and not more than 50 percent of the funds from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (3) (d) may be used for promoting meat, fish, vegetable, fruit, and other agricultural product exports.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,33,17 127. Page 334, line 10: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,33,18 “ Section 335d. 93.485 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,2 93.485 Water stewardship certification grant program. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (cm) to agricultural producers to reimburse the amounts that a producer pays to the Alliance for Water Stewardship to obtain a certification of water stewardship. The department shall award grants under this section directly to the agricultural producer. Grants under this section may not be used to reimburse any costs of operational changes needed to obtain the certification of water stewardship.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,3 128. Page 334, line 10: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,4 “ Section 335h. 93.53 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,11 93.53 Food waste reduction grants. (1) The department shall provide grants for food waste reduction pilot projects that have an objective of preventing food waste, redirecting surplus food to hunger relief organizations, and composting food waste. In awarding grants under this section, the department shall give preference to proposals that serve census tracts for which the median household income is below the statewide median household income and in which no grocery store is located.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,13 (2) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,335j Section 335j. 93.60 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,19 93.60 Food security and Wisconsin products grant program. (1) Grants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (fm) to nonprofit food banks, nonprofit food pantries, and other nonprofit organizations that provide food assistance for the purpose of purchasing food products that are made or grown in this state.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,20 (2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,21 129. Page 334, line 10: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,34,22 “ Section 335k. 93.64 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,5 93.64 Small farm diversity grant program. (1) Grants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (fm) to agricultural producers that have been in operation for at least one year and that, in the year prior to applying for a grant, earned less than $350,000 in gross cash farm income. Grants awarded under this section shall be in an amount no less than $5,000 and no more than $50,000. The recipient of a grant under this section shall provide matching funds of 30 percent of the amount of the grant.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,7 (2) Eligible costs. Grants awarded under this section may be used to pay for any of the following:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,10 (a) Costs to develop a new agricultural product or increase production of an agricultural product where market opportunities exist, including business planning, feasibility research, engineering, and architectural designs.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,11 (b) Start-up costs for new agricultural production operations.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,13 (c) Research and development of uses for food, feed, and fiber products that are innovative and add value to agricultural products.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,14 (d) Developing on-farm processing of agricultural commodities.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,15 (e) Developing an agritourism venue.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,17 (3) Priority. The department, in awarding grants under this section, shall give preference to applications that do any of the following:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,19 (a) Develop a business plan with market research and income projections including new and innovative plans for marketing.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,21 (b) Demonstrate a high probability of increased revenue, job creation, or enhanced viability.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,22 (c) Feature research that is innovative as well as commercially plausible.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,23 (d) Demonstrate a high probability of rapid commercialization.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,25 (e) Demonstrate a commitment for funding from other private or public sources or from the applicant.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,2 (4) Reports. The recipient of a grant under this section shall submit annual reports to the department documenting grant money expenses and results.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,3 (5) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,335q Section 335q. 93.65 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,7 93.65 Value-added agricultural practices. (1) Definition. In this section, “value-added agricultural product” means a farm product that satisfies any of the following:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,8 (a) The product has undergone a change in physical state.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,9 (b) The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,10 (c) The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,11 (d) The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,12 (e) The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,16 (2) Value-added products. The department may provide education and technical assistance related to promoting and implementing agricultural practices that produce value-added agricultural products, including by doing all of the following:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,25 (a) Assistance for organic farming practices. Providing education and technical assistance related to organic farming practices, including business and market development assistance; collaborating with organic producers, industry participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming; and stimulating interest and investment in organic production. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (fm) to organic producers, industry participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming. The department may award a grant to an organic producer, industry participant, or local organization under this paragraph for any of the following purposes:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,2 1. Providing education and technical assistance related to implementing organic farming practices.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,3 2. Helping to create organic farming plans.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,4 3. Assisting farmers to transition to organic farming.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,7 (b) Grazing grants. Awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (fm) to appropriate entities to provide education and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,9 (c) Promotion. Helping producers market value-added agricultural products, including products produced through the use of a practice described in s. 93.67.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,10 (3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,13 130. Page 334, line 18: after “in this state." insert “The department may not award a grant of more than $100,000 to any recipient. The recipient of a grant under this section shall providing equal matching funds.".

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,14 131. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,15 “ Section 336f. 93.76 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,19 93.76 Conservation grants. The department shall provide grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (qf) to local governments, nongovernmental organizations, federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands, businesses, and individuals for any of the following purposes:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,21 (1) To develop and provide education and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing and pasture maintenance.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,23 (2) To provide cost-sharing incentive payments to farmers to develop and adopt regenerative agricultural practices.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,2 (3) The department may promulgate rules to administer the program under this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,3 132. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,4 “ Section 336b. 93.74 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,7 93.74 Planning grants for regional biodigesters. (1) Grant program. From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (u), the department shall provide planning grants for establishing regional biodigesters.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,9 (2) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,10 133. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,11 “ Section 336h. 93.77 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,16 93.77 Nitrogen optimization pilot program. (1) In this section, “eligible university entities” means the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Center for Watershed Science and Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,19 (2) The department shall award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (cm) to agricultural producers and eligible university entities as provided under this section.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,23 (3) An agricultural producer may apply for and receive a grant to implement a project with the potential to reduce nitrate loading to groundwater in the area. The agricultural producer receiving a grant under this subsection shall collaborate with one or more eligible university entities under sub. (4).

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,5 (4) The eligible university entities shall collaborate with an agricultural producer that receives a grant under sub. (3) to monitor the grant project on-site and to use information gathered from the project to research nitrate loading reduction methods with a goal of making recommendations to agricultural producers to optimize nitrogen usage while improving water quality in this state.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,9 (5) The department may not make a grant to an agricultural producer and the eligible university entities collaborating with the agricultural producer in an amount that totals more than $125,000. No more than 50 percent of this total amount may be awarded to the collaborating eligible university entities.” .

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,10 134. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,11 “ Section 336d. 93.75 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,14 93.75 Regenerative agriculture practices. (1) The department shall provide grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (qf) to provide cost-sharing for the following purposes:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,15 (a) Conducting soil tests and other carbon sequestration analyses.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,16 (b) Updating nutrient management software.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,17 (c) Studying the feasibility of a statewide carbon market.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,18 (d) Assessing the market value of carbon sequestration.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,20 (e) For agricultural producers, implementing regenerative agricultural practices.