AB68: Bill Text

AB68,1538 Section 1538. 91.10 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,951,21 91.10 (title) County plan required; planning and implementation grants.

AB68,1539 Section 1539. 91.10 (7) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,951,25 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.

AB68,952,4 (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.

AB68,952,7 (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).

AB68,1540 Section 1540 . 92.14 (3) (a) 4m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,952,10 92.14 (3) (a) 4m. County land conservation personnel who primarily focus on climate change and climate change resiliency.

AB68,1541 Section 1541. 92.14 (5r) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,952,19 92.14 (5r) Annual grant request. Every land conservation committee shall prepare annually a grant request that describes the land and water resource staffing needs and activities to be undertaken or funded by the county under this chapter and ss. 281.65 and 281.66 and the funding needed for those purposes. The grant request shall specifically state any request for funding for climate change personnel under sub. (3) (a) 4m. The grant request shall be consistent with the county's plan under s. 92.10. The land conservation committee shall submit the grant request to the department.

AB68,1542 Section 1542 . 93.01 (14m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,953,2 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.

AB68,1543 Section 1543. 93.06 (1qm) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68,953,7 93.06 (1qm) Loans and grants for rural development. Make Provide grants, make loans, and charge interest and origination fees and take security for those loans, as required to receive federal funding for the development of rural business enterprises or for rural economic development.

AB68,1544 Section 1544. 93.425 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,953,12 93.425 Wisconsin initiative for agricultural exports. (1) The department shall consult with the center for international agribusiness marketing and establish and administer an agricultural exports program to promote the export of this state's agricultural and agribusiness products.

AB68,953,17 (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 vegetable, meat, and fish product exports.

AB68,1545 Section 1545. 93.48 of the statutes is renumbered 93.63, and 93.63 (1), as renumbered, is amended to read:

AB68,954,2 93.63 (1) The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (am) (f) to individuals or organizations to fund projects that are designed to increase the sale of agricultural products grown in this state that are purchased in close proximity to where they are produced. The department may not award a grant under this section unless the applicant contributes matching funds equal to at least 50 percent of the costs of the project. The department shall promulgate rules for the program under this section.

AB68,1546 Section 1546 . 93.485 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,954,10 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.

AB68,1547 Section 1547. 93.49 (1), (2), (3) (b) and (c), (4) and (5) of the statutes are renumbered 93.61 (1), (2), (3) (b) and (c), (4) and (5).

AB68,1548 Section 1548. 93.49 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 93.61 (3) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB68,954,19 93.61 (3) (a) (intro.) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (as) (f), the department shall provide grants to school districts, in coordination with the department of public instruction, and to nonprofit organizations, farmers, and any other entities for the creation and expansion of farm to school programs. The department shall give preference to the following types of proposals:

AB68,954,21 2. Proposals that are innovative or that provide models that other school districts can adopt.

AB68,1549 Section 1549. 93.525 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,955,2 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.

AB68,955,5 (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.

AB68,1550 Section 1550. 93.53 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,955,13 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.

AB68,955,15 (2) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.

AB68,1551 Section 1551 . 93.60 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,955,21 93.60 Food security and Wisconsin products grant program. (1) Grants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) 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.

AB68,955,22 (2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB68,1552 Section 1552. 93.61 (3) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,956,3 93.61 (3) (a) 1. Proposals from school districts in which a high percentage of pupils satisfy the income eligibility criteria under 42 USC 1758 (b) (1) for a free or reduced-price meal.

AB68,1553 Section 1553. 93.62 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,956,11 93.62 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.

AB68,956,16 (2) Grants. (a) The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) 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.

AB68,956,20 (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, as defined under s. 93.65 (1).

AB68,956,22 (c) The department may award grants under this subsection for projects that do any of the following:

AB68,956,25 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.

AB68,957,3 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.

AB68,957,5 3. Provide, expand, or promote training for food service personnel, farmers, and distributors.

AB68,957,6 4. Provide, expand, or promote nutritional and agricultural education.

AB68,957,8 (d) The department shall consult with interested persons to establish grant priorities for each fiscal year.

AB68,957,11 (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.

AB68,957,12 (4) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB68,1554 Section 1554. 93.64 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,957,20 93.64 Small farm diversity grant program. (1) Grants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) 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.

AB68,957,22 (2) Eligible costs. Grants awarded under this section may be used to pay for any of the following:

AB68,957,25 (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.

AB68,958,1 (b) Start-up costs for new agricultural production operations.

AB68,958,3 (c) Research and development of uses for food, feed, and fiber products that are innovative and add value to agricultural products.

AB68,958,4 (d) Developing on-farm processing of agricultural commodities.

AB68,958,5 (e) Developing an agritourism venue.

AB68,958,7 (3) Priority. The department, in awarding grants under this section, shall give preference to applications that do any of the following:

AB68,958,9 (a) Develop a business plan with market research and income projections including new and innovative plans for marketing.

AB68,958,11 (b) Demonstrate a high probability of increased revenue, job creation, or enhanced viability.

AB68,958,12 (c) Feature research that is innovative as well as commercially plausible.

AB68,958,13 (d) Demonstrate a high probability of rapid commercialization.

AB68,958,15 (e) Demonstrate a commitment for funding from other private or public sources or from the applicant.

AB68,958,17 (4) Reports. The recipient of a grant under this section shall submit annual reports to the department documenting grant money expenses and results.

AB68,958,18 (5) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB68,1555 Section 1555. 93.65 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,958,22 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:

AB68,958,23 (a) The product has undergone a change in physical state.

AB68,958,24 (b) The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.

AB68,958,25 (c) The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.

AB68,959,1 (d) The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.

AB68,959,2 (e) The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.

AB68,959,6 (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:

AB68,959,15 (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) (f) 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:

AB68,959,17 1. Providing education and technical assistance related to implementing organic farming practices.

AB68,959,18 2. Helping to create organic farming plans.

AB68,959,19 3. Assisting farmers to transition to organic farming.

AB68,959,22 (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.

AB68,959,24 (c) Promotion. Helping producers market value-added agricultural products, including products produced through the use of a practice described in s. 93.67.

AB68,959,25 (3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB68,1556 Section 1556. 93.66 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,960,7 93.66 Grants for hiring farm business consultants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) to county agriculture agents of the University of Wisconsin-Extension to help farm operators hire business consultants and attorneys to examine their farm business plans and create a farm succession plan. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB68,1557 Section 1557 . 93.67 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68,960,13 93.67 Technical assistance on resource conservation. (1) Technical assistance. The department may provide technical assistance to farmers related to increasing or maintaining agricultural yields while promoting soil health, water quality, and regenerative agricultural practices, including by doing all of the following:

AB68,960,17 (a) Connecting farmers with technologies or practices that address water quality and other environmental sustainability goals, including technologies or practices developed by the University of Wisconsin System, private sector businesses, and other agricultural producers.

AB68,960,19 (b) Developing technical resources to assist farmers in promoting soil health, water quality, and regenerative agricultural practices.

AB68,960,20 (c) Awarding grants under sub. (2).

AB68,961,2 (2) Grants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (f) to local governments, nongovernmental organizations, federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands, businesses, and individuals for developing technologies and strategies that support conservation efforts on working lands and for developing market-based solutions to environmental and resource challenges in modern farming systems. The department may not award a grant under this section of more than $25,000.

AB68,961,3 (3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.