AB50: Bill Text

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.

AB50,825,23 (d) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall prioritize reimbursement payments under par. (c) to all of the following:

AB50,826,2 1. Eligible applicants that received a federal depredation permit for sandhill crane in the previous year.

AB50,826,5 2. Eligible applicants that received reimbursement under this section in any of the prior 3 years or that can provide documentation of purchase of seed coating in any of the prior 3 years.

AB50,826,8 3. Eligible applicants planting corn on land vulnerable to sandhill crane depredation as determined by the department in consultation with the department of natural resources and applicable conservation organizations.

AB50,826,14 (e) After reimbursing all eligible applicants under par. (d), from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall make reimbursement payments to other eligible applicants that have experienced or are likely to experience seed or crop damage from sandhill cranes. The department shall make payments under this paragraph to eligible applicants in the order in which applications are received by the department.

AB50,826,17 (f) The department shall make all reimbursement payments under pars. (d) and (e) no later than September 15 of the year in which applications are made under par. (c).

AB50,826,19 (g) A farm is eligible to receive only one reimbursement payment per year under this section.

AB50,827,2 (3) The department shall compile an annual report detailing the number of reimbursements requested, the total dollar amount requested as reimbursement, the number of reimbursements issued, and the total dollar amount disbursed as reimbursement under this section. The department shall submit the report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided in s. 13.172 (3) no later than December 31 each year.

AB50,827,6 (4) The department may promulgate rules to establish prioritization of payments under sub. (2) (d) and (e), including identifying applicable conservation organizations under sub. (2) (d) 3. and determining whether eligible applicants have experienced or are likely to experience seed or crop damage under sub. (2) (e).

AB50,1582 Section 1582. 93.73 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,827,14 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.

AB50,1583 Section 1583. 93.74 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,827,18 93.74 Planning grants for regional biodigesters. (1) Grant program. From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (u), the department shall provide planning grants for establishing regional biodigesters.

AB50,827,20 (2) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.

AB50,1584 Section 1584. 93.75 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,827,24 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.

AB50,828,3 (2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules establishing the application process and grant-awarding criteria for the biodigester operator certification grants.

AB50,1585 Section 1585. 94.55 (2t) of the statutes is repealed.

AB50,1586 Section 1586. 94.56 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,828,7 94.56 Marijuana producers and processors. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB50,828,10 (a) “Labor peace agreement” means an agreement between a person applying for a permit under this section and a labor organization, as defined in s. 5.02 (8m), that does all of the following:

AB50,828,13 1. Prohibits the labor organization and its members from engaging in picketing, work stoppages, boycotts, and any other economic interference with persons doing business in this state.

AB50,828,15 2. Prohibits the applicant from disrupting the efforts of the labor organization to communicate with and to organize and represent the applicant’s employees.