AB50: Bill Text

AB50,1565 Section 1565. 86.315 (1) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,816,6 86.315 (1) (c) In calendar year 2027 and each year thereafter, $373.

AB50,1566 Section 1566. 86.51 of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,1567 Section 1567. 91.10 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,816,10 91.10 (title) County plan required; planning and implementation grants.

AB50,1568 Section 1568. 91.10 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,816,14 91.10 (7) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (tm), the department may award implementation grants to counties for implementing a county’s certified farmland preservation plan.

AB50,816,18 (b) The department shall enter into a contract with a county to which it awards an implementation 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.

AB50,816,21 (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).

AB50,1569 Section 1569. 91.84 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,816,24 91.84 (1) (b) The department may designate agricultural enterprise areas with a combined area of not more than 2,000,000 3,000,000 acres of land.

AB50,1570 Section 1570. 92.14 (16) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,817,2 92.14 (16) (title) Commercial nitrogen optimization pilot program.

AB50,1571 Section 1571. 92.14 (16) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,817,7 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.

AB50,1572 Section 1572. 92.14 (18) of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,817,13 92.14 (18) PFAS monitoring. As part of any statewide monitoring program, sampling program, or survey conducted by the department, any samples that are collected and tested shall also, at the department’s discretion and where appropriate, be tested for the presence of any perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance.

AB50,1573 Section 1573. 93.425 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,817,20 93.425 (3) Of the moneys appropriated under s. 20.115 (3) (b), the center for international agribusiness marketing shall ensure that $2,500,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (a), $1,250,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (b), and $1,250,000 is expended for the objective specified in sub. (2) (c). The center may not expend more than $1,000,000 under the program in any fiscal year.

AB50,1574 Section 1574. 93.525 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,818,3 93.525 Meat processing tuition and curriculum development 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 and for curriculum development for the meat processing program.

AB50,818,6 (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.

AB50,1575 Section 1575. 93.53 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,818,14 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.

AB50,818,16 (2) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.

AB50,1576 Section 1576. 93.54 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,818,23 93.54 Dairy agriculture resilience investment now grant pilot program. (1) Program. The department shall create a dairy agriculture resilience investment now grant pilot program, under which the department shall provide grants to dairy producers with fewer than 1,000 head of milking cows to fund projects designed to improve the dairy producers’ operational efficiency and resilience.

AB50,818,24 (2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB50,1577 Section 1577. 93.60 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,819,3 93.60 Transition to grass pilot program. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB50,819,8 (a) “Managed grazing” means a grazing system alternative to continuous grazing, in which pastured fields are subdivided into smaller paddocks, livestock density is controlled, and animals are rotated through paddocks at a frequency that maintains perennial grass-based vegetative cover, ensures regular access to fresh higher quality forage, and reduces soil compaction and erosion.

AB50,819,12 (b) “Marginal area” means land that is excluded from cultivation due to economic infeasibility or physical restriction for growing conventional crops, and includes riparian areas, low areas prone to flooding, and steep lands not conducive to conventional cultivation.

AB50,819,16 (2) Transition to grass pilot program. From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (t), the department shall create and administer a transition to grass pilot program that awards grants to farmers for managed grazing technical assistance and implementation support.

AB50,819,18 (3) Grazing grants. (a) Subject to par. (b), the transition to grass pilot program shall award grants to farmers for any of the following purposes:

AB50,819,20 1. To assist a farmer with establishing perennial forages for rotational grazing of livestock raised in a grass-based managed grazing system.

AB50,819,23 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.

AB50,820,2 3. To provide a farmer with incentive payments during the first 3 years of the farmer’s transition to grass-based managed grazing systems.

AB50,820,5 4. To assist a farmer with paying for grass-based managed grazing system infrastructure needs, including fencing, watering, and other livestock management infrastructure.

AB50,820,8 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.

AB50,820,13 (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.

AB50,820,15 (c) The department may not award more than $40,000 in grants under par. (a) to any one grantee.

AB50,820,20 (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.

AB50,820,22 (4) Support for farmers. (a) The transition to grass pilot program shall provide the following for farmers and persons in agribusiness:

AB50,821,2 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.

AB50,821,4 2. Best practices for meeting consumer demand for grass-fed livestock products.

AB50,821,7 3. Assistance in fostering innovation in and expanding farm and agribusiness strategies in grass-based managed grazing systems and grass-fed livestock practices.

AB50,821,10 (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.

AB50,1578 Section 1578. 93.61 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,821,14 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:

AB50,821,15 (a) The product has undergone a change in physical state.

AB50,821,16 (b) The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.

AB50,821,17 (c) The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.

AB50,821,18 (d) The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.

AB50,821,20 (e) The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.

AB50,822,2 (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:

AB50,822,11 (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:

AB50,822,13 1. Providing education and technical assistance related to implementing organic farming practices.

AB50,822,14 2. Helping to create organic farming plans.

AB50,822,15 3. Assisting farmers to transition to organic farming.

AB50,822,18 (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.

AB50,822,19 (c) Promotion. Helping producers market value-added agricultural products.

AB50,822,20 (3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB50,1579 Section 1579. 93.62 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,823,3 93.62 Food security and Wisconsin products grant program. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (aq) 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.

AB50,1580 Section 1580. 93.63 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,823,11 93.63 Farm to fork program. (1) Definition. In this section, “farm to fork program” means a program to connect entities that are not school districts and that have cafeterias to nearby farms to provide locally produced fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and other nutritious, locally produced foods in meals and snacks; to help the public develop healthy eating habits; to provide nutritional and agricultural education; and to improve farmers’ incomes and direct access to markets.

AB50,823,16 (2) Grants. (a) The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (at) to businesses, universities, hospitals, and other entities that are not school districts and that have cafeterias for the creation and expansion of farm to fork programs. The department shall give preference to proposals that are innovative or that provide models that other entities can adopt.

AB50,823,21 (b) In awarding grants under this section, the department shall promote agricultural development and farm profitability by supporting the development and adoption of practices and agribusiness opportunities that involve the production of value-added agricultural products. For purposes of this paragraph, “value-added agricultural product” means a farm product that satisfies any of the following:

AB50,823,22 1. The product has undergone a change in physical state.

AB50,823,23 2. The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.

AB50,824,1 3. The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.

AB50,824,2 4. The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.

AB50,824,4 5. The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.

AB50,824,6 (c) The department may award grants under this subsection for projects that do any of the following:

AB50,824,9 1. Create, expand, diversify, or promote production, processing, marketing, and distribution of food produced in this state for sale to entities in this state other than school districts.

AB50,824,12 2. Create, expand, or renovate facilities, including purchases of equipment for the facilities, that would ensure the use of food produced in this state in locations in this state other than schools.

AB50,824,14 3. Provide, expand, or promote training for food service personnel, farmers, and distributors.

AB50,824,15 4. Provide, expand, or promote nutritional and agricultural education.

AB50,824,17 (d) The department shall consult with interested persons to establish grant priorities for each fiscal year.

AB50,824,20 (3) Reports. At least annually, the department shall report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) and to the secretary on the needs and opportunities for farm to fork programs.

AB50,824,21 (4) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB50,1581 Section 1581. 93.67 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,825,2 93.67 Sandhill crane damage reimbursement program. (1) In this section:

AB50,825,6 (a) “Eligible applicant” means a person that plants corn on land that is operated as part of a farm that produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenues during the taxable year preceding the year in which the person applies for reimbursement under this section.

AB50,825,8 (b) “Farm” means all land under common ownership that is primarily devoted to agricultural use.

AB50,825,10 (c) “Seed coating” means a nonlethal treatment registered for use on corn seed to discourage sandhill cranes from consuming the seed.

AB50,825,13 (2) (a) The department shall administer a program to provide reimbursements to eligible applicants for the purchase of seed coating that is applied as a seed treatment.

AB50,825,16 (b) A reimbursement under this section shall cover not more than 50 percent of the actual cost of the purchase of seed coating that is applied as a seed treatment and may not exceed $6,250 per eligible applicant per planting season.

AB50,825,21 (c) From March 1 to June 15 of each year, eligible applicants may apply to the department for reimbursement for seed coating purchased no earlier than November 1 of the prior year. Eligible applicants shall provide to the department proof of purchase and an application on a form provided by the department to be eligible to receive a reimbursement under this section.