DOA:......Hutter, BB0466 - Value-added agricultural practices
For 2025-2027 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
AGRICULTURE
Value-added agricultural practices
The bill allows DATCP to provide education and technical assistance related to producing value-added agricultural products. Under the bill, DATCP may provide education and assistance related to organic farming practices; collaborate with organic producers, industry participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming; and stimulate interest and investment in organic production. The bill also allows DATCP to provide grants to organic producers, industry participants, and local organizations, which may be used to provide education and technical assistance related to organic farming, to help create organic farming plans, and to assist farmers in transitioning to organic farming. The bill also authorizes DATCP to provide grants to entities to provide education and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing. DATCP is also authorized under the bill to help farmers market value-added agricultural products.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. 20.115 (4) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
20.115 (4) (ar) Value-added agricultural practices. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for value-added agricultural practices under s. 93.61.
****Note: This Section involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
Section 2. 93.61 of the statutes is created to read:
93.61 Value-added agricultural practices. (1) Definition. In this section, “value-added agricultural product” means a farm product that satisfies any of the following:
(a) The product has undergone a change in physical state.
(b) The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.
(c) The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.
(d) The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.
(e) The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.
(2) Value-added agricultural 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:
(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) (ar) 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:
1. Providing education and technical assistance related to implementing organic farming practices.
2. Helping to create organic farming plans.
3. Assisting farmers to transition to organic farming.
(b) Grazing grants. Awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) to appropriate entities to provide education and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing.
(c) Promotion. Helping producers market value-added agricultural products.
(3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.
(end)
