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AB68,1538 19Section 1538. 91.10 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB68,951,21 2091.10 (title) County plan required; planning and implementation
21grants.
AB68,1539 22Section 1539. 91.10 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,951,2523 91.10 (7) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (tm), the department
24may award implementation grants to counties for implementing a county's certified
25farmland preservation plan.
AB68,952,4
1(b) The department shall enter into a contract with a county to which it awards
2a planning grant under par. (a) before the department distributes any grant funds
3to the county. In the contract, the department shall identify the costs that are eligible
4for reimbursement through the grant.
AB68,952,75 (c) The department may distribute grant funds under this subsection only after
6the county shows that it has incurred costs that are eligible for reimbursement under
7par. (b).
AB68,1540 8Section 1540 . 92.14 (3) (a) 4m. of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,952,109 92.14 (3) (a) 4m. County land conservation personnel who primarily focus on
10climate change and climate change resiliency.
AB68,1541 11Section 1541. 92.14 (5r) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB68,952,1912 92.14 (5r) Annual grant request. Every land conservation committee shall
13prepare annually a grant request that describes the land and water resource staffing
14needs and activities to be undertaken or funded by the county under this chapter and
15ss. 281.65 and 281.66 and the funding needed for those purposes. The grant request
16shall specifically state any request for funding for climate change personnel under
17sub. (3) (a) 4m.
The grant request shall be consistent with the county's plan under
18s. 92.10. The land conservation committee shall submit the grant request to the
19department.
AB68,1542 20Section 1542 . 93.01 (14m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,953,221 93.01 (14m) “Regenerative agricultural practice” means an agricultural
22management technique designed to build soil health and crop resiliency, improve
23water and nutrient retention, or sequester carbon, primarily by managing the
24organic matter content of soil. “Regenerative agricultural practice” includes

1diversifying crop rotations and using no-till planting, managed grazing, cover
2cropping, and composting.
AB68,1543 3Section 1543. 93.06 (1qm) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB68,953,74 93.06 (1qm) Loans and grants for rural development. Make Provide grants,
5make
loans, and charge interest and origination fees and take security for those
6loans, as required to receive federal funding for the development of rural business
7enterprises or for rural economic development.
AB68,1544 8Section 1544. 93.425 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,953,12 993.425 Wisconsin initiative for agricultural exports. (1) The department
10shall consult with the center for international agribusiness marketing and establish
11and administer an agricultural exports program to promote the export of this state's
12agricultural and agribusiness products.
AB68,953,17 13(2) In establishing and administering the program under this section, not more
14than 50 percent of the funds from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (3) (d) may be
15used for promoting dairy product exports and not more than 50 percent of the funds
16from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (3) (d) may be used for promoting vegetable,
17meat, and fish product exports.
AB68,1545 18Section 1545. 93.48 of the statutes is renumbered 93.63, and 93.63 (1), as
19renumbered, is amended to read:
AB68,954,220 93.63 (1) The department may award grants from the appropriation under s.
2120.115 (4) (am) (f) to individuals or organizations to fund projects that are designed
22to increase the sale of agricultural products grown in this state that are purchased
23in close proximity to where they are produced. The department may not award a
24grant under this section unless the applicant contributes matching funds equal to at

1least 50 percent of the costs of the project. The department shall promulgate rules
2for the program under this section.
AB68,1546 3Section 1546 . 93.485 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,954,10 493.485 Water stewardship certification grant program. The department
5may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (cm) to agricultural
6producers to reimburse the amounts that a producer pays to the Alliance for Water
7Stewardship to obtain a certification of water stewardship. The department shall
8award grants under this section directly to the agricultural producer. Grants under
9this section may not be used to reimburse any costs of operational changes needed
10to obtain the certification of water stewardship.
AB68,1547 11Section 1547. 93.49 (1), (2), (3) (b) and (c), (4) and (5) of the statutes are
12renumbered 93.61 (1), (2), (3) (b) and (c), (4) and (5).
AB68,1548 13Section 1548. 93.49 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 93.61 (3) (a) (intro.)
14and amended to read:
AB68,954,1915 93.61 (3) (a) (intro.) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (as) (f), the
16department shall provide grants to school districts, in coordination with the
17department of public instruction, and to nonprofit organizations, farmers, and any
18other entities for the creation and expansion of farm to school programs. The
19department shall give preference to the following types of proposals:
AB68,954,21 202. Proposals that are innovative or that provide models that other school
21districts can adopt.
AB68,1549 22Section 1549. 93.525 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,955,2 2393.525 Meat processing tuition grants. (1) From the appropriation under
24s. 20.115 (3) (f), the department shall provide grants to universities, colleges, and

1technical colleges located in this state that have programs in meat processing to
2reimburse tuition costs of students enrolled in a meat processing program.
AB68,955,5 3(2) Each tuition reimbursement made with a grant received under this section
4shall reimburse a student for not more than 80 percent of the first $9,375 of the
5tuition cost for enrolling in a meat processing program.
AB68,1550 6Section 1550. 93.53 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,955,13 793.53 Food waste reduction grants. (1) The department shall provide
8grants for food waste reduction pilot projects that have an objective of preventing
9food waste, redirecting surplus food to hunger relief organizations, and composting
10food waste. In awarding grants under this section, the department shall give
11preference to proposals that serve census tracts for which the median household
12income is below the statewide median household income and in which no grocery
13store is located.
AB68,955,15 14(2) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this
15section.
AB68,1551 16Section 1551 . 93.60 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,955,21 1793.60 Food security and Wisconsin products grant program. (1)
18Grants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115
19(4) (f) to nonprofit food banks, nonprofit food pantries, and other nonprofit
20organizations that provide food assistance for the purpose of purchasing food
21products that are made or grown in this state.
AB68,955,22 22(2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.
AB68,1552 23Section 1552. 93.61 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,956,3
193.61 (3) (a) 1. Proposals from school districts in which a high percentage of
2pupils satisfy the income eligibility criteria under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) for a free or
3reduced-price meal.
AB68,1553 4Section 1553. 93.62 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,956,11 593.62 Farm to fork program. (1) Definition. In this section, “farm to fork
6program” means a program to connect entities that are not school districts and that
7have cafeterias to nearby farms to provide locally produced fresh fruits and
8vegetables, dairy products, and other nutritious, locally produced foods in meals and
9snacks; to help the public develop healthy eating habits; to provide nutritional and
10agricultural education; and to improve farmers' incomes and direct access to
11markets.
AB68,956,16 12(2) Grants. (a) The department may award grants from the appropriation
13under s. 20.115 (4) (f) to businesses, universities, hospitals, and other entities that
14are not school districts and that have cafeterias for the creation and expansion of
15farm to fork programs. The department shall give preference to proposals that are
16innovative or that provide models that other entities can adopt.
AB68,956,2017 (b) In awarding grants under this section, the department shall promote
18agricultural development and farm profitability by supporting the development and
19adoption of practices and agribusiness opportunities that involve the production of
20value-added agricultural products, as defined under s. 93.65 (1).
AB68,956,2221 (c) The department may award grants under this subsection for projects that
22do any of the following:
AB68,956,2523 1. Create, expand, diversify, or promote production, processing, marketing, and
24distribution of food produced in this state for sale to entities in this state other than
25school districts.
AB68,957,3
12. Create, expand, or renovate facilities, including purchases of equipment for
2the facilities, that would ensure the use of food produced in this state in locations in
3this state other than schools.
AB68,957,54 3. Provide, expand, or promote training for food service personnel, farmers, and
5distributors.
AB68,957,66 4. Provide, expand, or promote nutritional and agricultural education.
AB68,957,87 (d) The department shall consult with interested persons to establish grant
8priorities for each fiscal year.
AB68,957,11 9(3) Reports. At least annually, the department shall report to the legislature
10under s. 13.172 (2) and to the secretary on the needs and opportunities for farm to
11fork programs.
AB68,957,12 12(4) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.
AB68,1554 13Section 1554. 93.64 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,957,20 1493.64 Small farm diversity grant program. (1) Grants. The department
15may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) to agricultural
16producers that have been in operation for at least one year and that, in the year prior
17to applying for a grant, earned less than $350,000 in gross cash farm income. Grants
18awarded under this section shall be in an amount no less than $5,000 and no more
19than $50,000. The recipient of a grant under this section shall provide matching
20funds of 30 percent of the amount of the grant.
AB68,957,22 21(2) Eligible costs. Grants awarded under this section may be used to pay for
22any of the following:
AB68,957,2523 (a) Costs to develop a new agricultural product or increase production of an
24agricultural product where market opportunities exist, including business planning,
25feasibility research, engineering, and architectural designs.
AB68,958,1
1(b) Start-up costs for new agricultural production operations.
AB68,958,32 (c) Research and development of uses for food, feed, and fiber products that are
3innovative and add value to agricultural products.
AB68,958,44 (d) Developing on-farm processing of agricultural commodities.
AB68,958,55 (e) Developing an agritourism venue.
AB68,958,7 6(3) Priority. The department, in awarding grants under this section, shall give
7preference to applications that do any of the following:
AB68,958,98 (a) Develop a business plan with market research and income projections
9including new and innovative plans for marketing.
AB68,958,1110 (b) Demonstrate a high probability of increased revenue, job creation, or
11enhanced viability.
AB68,958,1212 (c) Feature research that is innovative as well as commercially plausible.
AB68,958,1313 (d) Demonstrate a high probability of rapid commercialization.
AB68,958,1514 (e) Demonstrate a commitment for funding from other private or public sources
15or from the applicant.
AB68,958,17 16(4) Reports. The recipient of a grant under this section shall submit annual
17reports to the department documenting grant money expenses and results.
AB68,958,18 18(5) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.
AB68,1555 19Section 1555. 93.65 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,958,22 2093.65 Value-added agricultural practices. (1) Definition. In this section,
21“value-added agricultural product” means a farm product that satisfies any of the
22following:
AB68,958,2323 (a) The product has undergone a change in physical state.
AB68,958,2424 (b) The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.
AB68,958,2525 (c) The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.
AB68,959,1
1(d) The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.
AB68,959,22 (e) The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.
AB68,959,6 3(2) Value-added products. The department may provide education and
4technical assistance related to promoting and implementing agricultural practices
5that produce value-added agricultural products, including by doing all of the
6following:
AB68,959,157 (a) Assistance for organic farming practices. Providing education and technical
8assistance related to organic farming practices, including business and market
9development assistance; collaborating with organic producers, industry
10participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming; and
11stimulating interest and investment in organic production. The department may
12award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) to organic producers,
13industry participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming. The
14department may award a grant to an organic producer, industry participant, or local
15organization under this paragraph for any of the following purposes:
AB68,959,1716 1. Providing education and technical assistance related to implementing
17organic farming practices.
AB68,959,1818 2. Helping to create organic farming plans.
AB68,959,1919 3. Assisting farmers to transition to organic farming.
AB68,959,2220 (b) Grazing grants. Awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115
21(4) (f) to appropriate entities to provide education and training to farmers about best
22practices related to grazing.
AB68,959,2423 (c) Promotion. Helping producers market value-added agricultural products,
24including products produced through the use of a practice described in s. 93.67.
AB68,959,25 25(3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.
AB68,1556
1Section 1556. 93.66 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,960,7 293.66 Grants for hiring farm business consultants. The department may
3award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) to county agriculture
4agents of the University of Wisconsin-Extension to help farm operators hire
5business consultants and attorneys to examine their farm business plans and create
6a farm succession plan. The department may promulgate rules to administer this
7section.
AB68,1557 8Section 1557 . 93.67 of the statutes is created to read:
AB68,960,13 993.67 Technical assistance on resource conservation. (1) Technical
10assistance.
The department may provide technical assistance to farmers related to
11increasing or maintaining agricultural yields while promoting soil health, water
12quality, and regenerative agricultural practices, including by doing all of the
13following:
AB68,960,1714 (a) Connecting farmers with technologies or practices that address water
15quality and other environmental sustainability goals, including technologies or
16practices developed by the University of Wisconsin System, private sector
17businesses, and other agricultural producers.
AB68,960,1918 (b) Developing technical resources to assist farmers in promoting soil health,
19water quality, and regenerative agricultural practices.
AB68,960,2020 (c) Awarding grants under sub. (2).
AB68,961,2 21(2) Grants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under
22s. 20.115 (4) (f) to local governments, nongovernmental organizations, federally
23recognized American Indian tribes or bands, businesses, and individuals for
24developing technologies and strategies that support conservation efforts on working
25lands and for developing market-based solutions to environmental and resource

1challenges in modern farming systems. The department may not award a grant
2under this section of more than $25,000.
AB68,961,3 3(3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.
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