Amendment AA24-ASA2-AB50

AB50-ASA2-AA24,21,20 2. To provide assistance to a farmer in establishing harvestable continuous cover in marginal areas that can produce supplemental feed for livestock that is raised in a grass-based managed grazing system.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,21,22 3. To provide a farmer with incentive payments during the first 3 years of the farmer’s transition to grass-based managed grazing systems.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,22,2 4. To assist a farmer with paying for grass-based managed grazing system infrastructure needs, including fencing, watering, and other livestock management infrastructure.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,22,5 5. Technical assistance and support from a certified grazing specialist in developing grazing plans, including determining field layout, infrastructure setup, seed selection, and establishment of rotational grazing patterns.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,22,10 (b) Grants awarded under par. (a) shall be awarded only to a farmer implementing a new grass-based managed grazing system or a new managed grazing practice that improves the conservation and financial performance of existing grazing systems; grants may not be awarded to a farmer for the support of the farmer’s existing grazing practices.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,22,12 (c) The department may not award more than $40,000 in grants under par. (a) to any one grantee.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,22,17 (d) In the year following the department’s decision to grant an award under par. (a), the department shall provide 75 percent of the award to the grantee, and in each of the 2nd and 3rd years following the department’s decision to grant an award under par. (a), the department shall provide 12.5 percent of the award to the grantee.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,22,19 (4) Support for farmers. (a) The transition to grass pilot program shall provide the following for farmers and persons in agribusiness:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,22,22 1. Assistance in navigating and analyzing the economics of grass-based managed grazing and providing grass-fed livestock research, market development initiatives, and other market opportunities.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,23,2 2. Best practices for meeting consumer demand for grass-fed livestock products.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,23,5 3. Assistance in fostering innovation in and expanding farm and agribusiness strategies in grass-based managed grazing systems and grass-fed livestock practices.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,23,8 (b) The department’s division of agricultural development shall support the state’s grass-fed livestock supply chain, including regional processors, aggregators, distributors, and markets.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,23,9 27. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,23,20 “Section 38. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:

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AB50-ASA2-AA24,39 Section 39. 20.115 (7) (br) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,24,7 20.115 (7) (br) Principal repayment and interest; agricultural conservation easements. A sum sufficient to reimburse s. 20.866 (1) (u) for the principal and interest costs incurred in purchasing agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73, to make the payments determined by the building commission under s. 13.488 (1) (m) that are attributable to the proceeds of obligations incurred to purchase agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73, and to make payments under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a).

AB50-ASA2-AA24,40 Section 40. 20.115 (7) (tb) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,24,16 20.115 (7) (tb) Principal and interest; agricultural conservation easements. From the working lands fund, the amounts in the schedule to reimburse s. 20.866 (1) (u) for the principal and interest costs incurred in purchasing agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73, to make the payments determined by the building commission under s. 13.488 (1) (m) that are attributable to the proceeds of obligations incurred to purchase agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73, and to make payments under an agreement or ancillary agreement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a).

AB50-ASA2-AA24,41 Section 41. 20.866 (1) (u) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,25,7 20.866 (1) (u) Principal repayment and interest. A sum sufficient from moneys appropriated under sub. (2) (zp) and ss. 20.115 (2) (d) and (7) (b) and, (br), (s), and (tb), 20.190 (1) (c), (d), (i), and (j), 20.225 (1) (c) and (i), 20.245 (1) (e) and (j), 20.250 (1) (c) and (e), 20.255 (1) (d), 20.285 (1) (d), (gj), and (je), 20.320 (1) (c) and (t) and (2) (c), 20.370 (7) (aa), (ad), (ag), (aq), (ar), (at), (au), (bq), (br), (cb), (cc), (cd), (cg), (cq), (cr), (cs), (ct), (ea), (eq), and (er), 20.395 (6) (af), (aq), (ar), and (au), 20.410 (1) (e), (ec), and (ko) and (3) (e) and (fm), 20.435 (2) (ee), 20.465 (1) (d), 20.485 (1) (f) and (go) and (4) (qm), 20.505 (4) (es), (et), (ha), and (hb) and (5) (c), (g), and (kc), 20.855 (8) (a), and 20.867 (1) (a) and (b) and (3) (a), (b), (bb), (bc), (bd), (be), (bf), (bg), (bh), (bj), (bL), (bm), (bn), (bo), (bq), (br), (bt), (bu), (bv), (bw), (bx), (cb), (cd), (cf), (ch), (cj), (cq), (cr), (cs), (cv), (cw), (cx), (cz), (g), (h), (i), (kd), and (q) for the payment of principal, interest, premium due, if any, and payment due, if any, under an agreement or ancillary arrangement entered into under s. 18.06 (8) (a) relating to any public debt contracted under subchs. I and IV of ch. 18.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,42 Section 42. 20.866 (2) (wg) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,25,13 20.866 (2) (wg) Agricultural conservation easements. From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection to purchase agricultural conservation easements under s. 93.73. The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 for this purpose.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,43 Section 43. 23.197 (15) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,44 Section 44. 93.73 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,25,22 93.73 (2) (b) The department, after consultation with the council under sub. (13), shall solicit applications under sub. (3) at least annually. The department shall issue each solicitation in writing and shall publish a notice announcing the solicitation. In soliciting applications, the department may specify the total amount of funds available, application deadlines, application requirements and procedures, preliminary criteria for evaluating applications, and other relevant information.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,25,23 28. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,26,2 “Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,26,7 (1) Dairy processing plant grants. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (4) (dm), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $1,000,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $1,000,000 for the purpose of providing dairy processing plant grants.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,26,8 29. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,26,10 “Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,26,16 (1) Grants for meat processing facilities. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (4) (f), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $1,000,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $1,000,000 for the provision of grants to meat processing facilities under s. 93.68.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,26,17 30. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,26,19 “Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,27,2 (1) Farmer mental health assistance programming. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (3) (c), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025- 26 is increased by $200,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $200,000 for farmer mental health assistance programming.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,27,3 31. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,27,4 “Section 45. 20.866 (2) (we) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,27,11 20.866 (2) (we) Agriculture; soil and water. From the capital improvement fund, a sum sufficient for the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection to provide for soil and water resource management under s. 92.14. The state may contract public debt in an amount not to exceed $68,075,000 $92,075,000 for this purpose. The state may contract additional public debt in an amount up to $7,000,000 for this purpose. The state may contract additional public debt in an amount up to $7,000,000 for this purpose.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,27,12 32. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,27,19 “Section 46. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:

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AB50-ASA2-AA24,47 Section 47. 20.115 (7) (qm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,28,2 20.115 (7) (qm) Commercial nitrogen optimization program. Biennially, from the environmental fund, the amounts in the schedule for the commercial nitrogen optimization program under s. 92.14 (16).

AB50-ASA2-AA24,48 Section 48. 92.14 (16) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,28,4 92.14 (16) (title) Commercial nitrogen optimization pilot program.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,49 Section 49. 92.14 (16) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,28,9 92.14 (16) (a) In addition to any grants provided under sub. (3), the department shall award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (qf) (qm) to agricultural producers and to University of Wisconsin System institutions as provided under this subsection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,9202 Section 9202. Fiscal changes; Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,28,16 (1) Cover crop insurance rebate program. In the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) for the appropriation to the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under s. 20.115 (7) (qf), the dollar amount for fiscal year 2025-26 is increased by $800,000 and the dollar amount for fiscal year 2026-27 is increased by $800,000 for the provision of crop insurance premium rebates under s. 92.14 (17).”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,28,17 33. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,5 “Section 50. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated:

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AB50-ASA2-AA24,51 Section 51. 20.115 (7) (da) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,8 20.115 (7) (da) Biodigester operator certification grants. The amounts in the schedule for biodigester operator certification grants under s. 93.75.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,52 Section 52. 93.75 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,12 93.75 Biodigester operator certification grants. (1) Grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (da), the department shall award grants to individuals seeking biodigester operator certification.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,15 (2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules establishing the application process and grant-awarding criteria for the biodigester operator certification grants.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,16 34. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,17 “Section 53. 97.26 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,20 97.26 Labeling of food product as milk. (1) Prohibition. No person may label a food product as, or sell or offer for sale a food product that is labeled as, any type of “milk” unless the food product is at least one of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,21 (a) Milk, lowfat milk, skim milk, or nonfat dry milk.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,29,22 (b) A product described in 21 CFR 131.110 to 131.147.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,1 (c) Hooved or camelid mammals’ milk, as defined in s. 97.20 (1) (fm).

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,2 (2) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,54 Section 54. 97.265 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,7 97.265 Labeling food as a type of dairy product. (1) Dairy products. No person may label a food product as, or sell or offer for sale a food product that is labeled as, a type of dairy product described in s. 97.20 (1) (b) 3. to 5. or a similar term unless the food product is a dairy product, as defined in s. 97.20 (1) (b).

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,10 (2) Dairy ingredients. No person may label a food product as, or sell or offer for sale a food product that is labeled as, a type of dairy ingredient unless the food product is derived from at least one of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,11 (a) Milk, lowfat milk, skim milk, or nonfat dry milk.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,12 (b) A product described in 21 CFR 131.110 to 131.147.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,13 (c) Hooved or camelid mammals’ milk, as defined in s. 97.20 (1) (fm).

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,15 (3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules to implement this section.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,16 35. At the appropriate places, insert all of the following:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,30,17 “Section 55. 97.57 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50-ASA2-AA24,31,2 97.57 (4) No person may sell or offer for sale wild rice labeled “traditionally harvested” unless the wild rice is harvested using traditional wild rice harvesting methods of American Indian tribes or bands, as defined by the department by rule. The department shall obtain the advice and recommendations of the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc., before promulgating a rule defining a traditional wild rice harvesting method.”.

AB50-ASA2-AA24,31,3 (end)