Chapter 126

126.10(10m) (10m) “License year” means the period beginning on September 1 and ending on the following August 31.

126.10(11) (11) “Procure grain” means to buy grain or acquire the right to market grain.

126.10(12) (12) “Procure producer grain in this state” means any of the following:

126.10(12)(a) (a) To buy producer grain for receipt in this state.

126.10(12)(b) (b) To acquire the right to market producer grain grown in this state.

126.10(13) (13) “Producer agent” means a person who acts on behalf of a grain producer to market or accept payment for the grain producer’s grain without taking title to that grain, including a person who uses a producer trust fund to market or accept payment for producer grain. “Producer agent” does not include any of the following:

126.10(13)(a) (a) A person who merely brokers a contract between a grain producer and a grain dealer, without becoming a party to the contract, taking control of grain, or accepting payment on behalf of the grain producer.

126.10(13)(b) (b) A person who merely holds or transports grain for a grain producer without marketing the grain or accepting payment on behalf of the grain producer.

126.10(14) (14) “Producer grain” means grain that is owned by or held in trust for one or more grain producers. “Producer grain” includes grain that a producer agent markets for a grain producer, without taking title to the grain.

126.10 History History: 2001 a. 16.

126.11 126.11 Grain dealers; licensing.

126.11(1) (1) License required. Except as provided in sub. (2), no grain dealer may procure producer grain in this state without a current annual license from the department.

126.11(2) (2) Exempt grain dealers. The following grain dealers are not required to hold a license under this section, but may volunteer to be licensed:

126.11(2)(a) (a) A grain dealer who pays cash on delivery for all producer grain.

126.11(2)(b) (b) A grain dealer who buys producer grain solely for the grain dealer’s own use as feed or seed and who spends less than $400,000 per license year for that grain.

126.11(2m) (2m) License terms. A license under this section expires on the August 31 following its issuance. No person may transfer or assign a license issued under this section.

126.11(3) (3) License application. A grain dealer shall apply for an annual license under this section in writing, on a form provided by the department. An applicant shall provide all of the following:

126.11(3)(a) (a) The applicant’s legal name and any trade name under which the applicant proposes to operate as a grain dealer.

126.11(3)(b) (b) A statement of whether the applicant is an individual, corporation, partnership, cooperative, unincorporated cooperative association, limited liability company, trust, or other legal entity. If the applicant is a corporation, a cooperative, or an association, the applicant shall identify each officer of the corporation or cooperative. If the applicant is a partnership, the applicant shall identify each partner.

126.11(3)(c) (c) The mailing address of the applicant’s primary business location and the name of a responsible individual who may be contacted at that location.

126.11(3)(d) (d) The street address of each business location from which the applicant operates in this state as a grain dealer and the name of a responsible individual who may be contacted at each location that is staffed.

126.11(3)(e) (e) All license fees and surcharges required under sub. (4).

126.11(3)(g) (g) A financial statement if required under s. 126.13 (1) and not yet filed.

126.11(3)(h) (h) Other relevant information required by the department.

126.11(4) (4) License fees and surcharges. A grain dealer applying for an annual license under this section shall pay the following fees and surcharges in the amounts that the department specifies by rule:

126.11(4)(a) (a) A nonrefundable basic license fee.

126.11(4)(b) (b) A supplementary license fee based on the volume of grain reported by the grain dealer under sub. (9) (d), less any credit provided under sub. (6).

126.11(4)(c) (c) A supplementary license fee for each truck, in excess of one truck, that the grain dealer uses to haul grain in this state.

126.11(4)(d) (d) A license surcharge if the grain dealer files a financial statement under s. 126.13 (1) that is not an audited financial statement.

126.11(4)(e) (e) A license surcharge if the department determines that, within 365 days before submitting the license application, the applicant operated as a grain dealer without a license in violation of sub. (1). The applicant shall also pay any license fees, license surcharges, and fund assessments that are still due for any license year in which the applicant violated sub. (1).

126.11(4)(f) (f) A license surcharge if during the preceding 12 months the applicant failed to file an annual financial statement required under s. 126.13 (1) (b) by the deadline specified in s. 126.13 (1) (c).

126.11(4)(g) (g) A license surcharge if a renewal applicant fails to renew a license by the license expiration date of August 31. This paragraph does not apply to a grain dealer who is exempt under sub. (2) and is voluntarily licensed.

126.11(4m) (4m) Effect of payment of surcharge. Payment under sub. (4) (e) does not relieve the applicant of any other civil or criminal liability that results from the violation of sub. (1), but does not constitute evidence of any law violation.

126.11(5) (5) License for part of year; fees. A person who applies for an annual grain dealer license after the beginning of a license year shall pay the full annual fee amounts required under sub. (4).

126.11(6) (6) Fee credits. If the combined balance in the fund contributed by grain dealers and grain warehouse keepers, as defined in s. 126.25 (9), exceeds $2,300,000 on May 31 of any license year, the department shall credit 50 percent of the excess amount against license fees charged under sub. (4) (b) to contributing grain dealers who file timely license renewal applications for the next license year. The department shall credit each contributing grain dealer on a prorated basis, in proportion to the total fees that the grain dealer paid under sub. (4) (b) for the 4 preceding license years as a contributing grain dealer.

126.11(7) (7) Fee statement. The department shall provide, with each license application form, a written statement of all license fees and surcharges required under sub. (4) or the formula for determining them. The department shall specify any fee credit for which the applicant may qualify under sub. (6).

126.11(8) (8) No license without full payment. The department may not issue an annual license under sub. (1) until the applicant pays all license fees and surcharges identified in the department’s statement under sub. (7). The department shall refund a fee or surcharge paid under protest if upon review the department determines that the fee or surcharge is not applicable.

126.11(9) (9) Applicant statement. As part of a license application under sub. (3), an applicant shall provide a statement, signed by the applicant or an officer of the applicant, that reports all of the following:

126.11(9)(a) (a) The total amount that the applicant paid, during the applicant’s last completed fiscal year, for producer grain procured in this state, less the total amount reported under par. (e) 3., if any. If the applicant has not yet operated as a grain dealer in this state, the applicant shall estimate the amount that the applicant will pay during the applicant’s first complete fiscal year for producer grain procured in this state, less the total amount reported under par. (e) 3., if any.

126.11(9)(b) (b) The amount of the payments under par. (a) made under deferred payment contracts.

126.11(9)(c) (c) Whether the applicant has had any obligations under deferred payment contracts, for grain procured in this state, at any time since the beginning of the applicant’s last completed fiscal year.

126.11(9)(d) (d) The total number of bushels of producer grain that the applicant procured in this state during the applicant’s last completed fiscal year. If the applicant has not yet operated as a grain dealer in this state, the applicant shall estimate the total number of bushels of producer grain that the applicant will procure in this state during the applicant’s first complete fiscal year.

126.11(9)(e) (e) All of the following information related to each grain producer or producer agent that under s. 126.70 (1) (b) has permanently waived eligibility to file a default claim against the applicant:

126.11(9)(e)1. 1. A copy of the written waiver that the grain producer or producer agent filed under s. 126.70 (1) (c).

126.11(9)(e)2. 2. The total number of bushels of producer grain that the applicant procured in this state from that grain producer or producer agent during the applicant’s last completed fiscal year. If the applicant has not yet operated as a grain dealer in this state, the applicant shall estimate the total number of bushels of producer grain that the applicant will procure in this state from that grain producer or producer agent during the applicant’s first complete fiscal year.

126.11(9)(e)3. 3. The total amount that the applicant paid during the applicant’s last completed fiscal year for producer grain that the applicant procured in this state from that grain producer or producer agent. If the applicant has not yet operated as a grain dealer in this state, the applicant shall estimate the total amount that the applicant will pay during the applicant’s first complete fiscal year for producer grain that the applicant will procure in this state from that producer or producer agent.

126.11(9)(e)4. 4. The amount of payments under subd. 3. made under deferred payment contracts.

126.11(10) (10) Action granting or denying application. The department shall grant or deny an application under sub. (3) within 30 days after the department receives a complete application. If the department denies a license application, the department shall give the applicant a written notice stating the reason for the denial.

126.11(11) (11) License displayed. A grain dealer licensed under sub. (1) shall prominently display a copy of that license at the following locations:

126.11(11)(a) (a) On each truck that the grain dealer uses to haul grain in this state.

126.11(11)(b) (b) At each business location from which the grain dealer operates in this state.

126.11 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 441; 2009 a. 296; 2017 a. 155.

126.12 126.12 Grain dealers; insurance.

126.12(1) (1) Fire and extended coverage insurance. A grain dealer licensed, or required to be licensed, under s. 126.11 shall maintain fire and extended coverage insurance, issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state, that covers all grain in the custody of the grain dealer, whether owned by the grain dealer or held for others, at the full local market value of the grain.

126.12(2) (2) Insurance cancellation; replacement. Whenever an insurance policy under sub. (1) is canceled, the grain dealer shall replace the policy so that there is no lapse in coverage.

126.12(3) (3) Insurance coverage; misrepresentation. No grain dealer may misrepresent any of the following to the department or to any grain producer or producer agent:

126.12(3)(a) (a) That the grain dealer is insured.

126.12(3)(b) (b) The nature, coverage, or material terms of the grain dealer’s insurance policy.

126.12 History History: 2001 a. 16.

126.13 126.13 Grain dealers; financial statements.

126.13(1) (1) Required annual financial statement.

126.13(1)(a) (a) A grain dealer shall file an annual financial statement with the department, before the department first licenses the grain dealer under s. 126.11, if the grain dealer’s license application shows any of the following:

126.13(1)(a)1. 1. That the amount of grain reported under s. 126.11 (9) (d), less the total amount reported under s. 126.11 (9) (e) 2., if any, exceeds 200,000 bushels.

126.13(1)(a)2. 2. Any deferred payment contract obligations under s. 126.11 (9) (c) to a grain producer or producer agent that has not, under s. 126.70 (1) (b), permanently waived eligibility to file a default claim against the grain dealer.

126.13(1)(b) (b) A grain dealer licensed under s. 126.11 shall file an annual financial statement with the department during each license year if the grain dealer’s license application for that year shows any of the following:

126.13(1)(b)1. 1. That the amount of grain reported under s. 126.11 (9) (d), less the total amount reported under s. 126.11 (9) (e) 2., if any, exceeds 200,000 bushels and the grain dealer is not a contributing grain dealer who procures grain in this state solely as a producer agent.

126.13(1)(b)2. 2. Any deferred payment contract obligations under s. 126.11 (9) (c) to a grain producer or producer agent that has not, under s. 126.70 (1) (b), permanently waived eligibility to file a default claim against the grain dealer.

126.13(1)(c) (c) A grain dealer shall file an annual financial statement under par. (b) by the 15th day of the 4th month following the close of the grain dealer’s fiscal year, except that the department may extend the filing deadline for up to 30 days if the grain dealer, or the accountant reviewing or auditing the financial statement, files a written extension request at least 10 days before the filing deadline.

126.13(1)(d) (d) Except as provided under par. (e), a grain dealer licensed under s. 126.11 may not incur any obligations under deferred payment contracts for grain procured in this state unless the contractor first notifies the department and files an annual financial statement with the department.

126.13(1)(e) (e) A grain dealer licensed under s. 126.11 is not required to notify the department or file an annual financial statement with the department under par. (d) for an obligation incurred under a deferred payment contract, for grain procured in this state, with a grain producer or producer agent that has, under s. 126.70 (1) (b), permanently waived eligibility to file a default claim against the grain dealer.

126.13(2) (2) Voluntary annual financial statement. A contributing grain dealer who is not required to file a financial statement under sub. (1) may file an annual financial statement with the department to qualify for a lower fund assessment under s. 126.15.

126.13(3) (3) Reviewed or audited financial statement. A grain dealer filing a financial statement under sub. (1) or (2) may file either a reviewed financial statement or an audited financial statement, except that if the volume of grain reported by the grain dealer under s. 126.11 (9) (d), less the total volume reported by the grain dealer under s. 126.11 (9) (e) 2., if any, exceeds 2,500,000 bushels, the grain dealer shall file an audited financial statement.

126.13(4) (4) Accounting period. A grain dealer filing an annual financial statement under sub. (1) or (2) shall file a financial statement that covers the grain dealer’s last completed fiscal year unless the grain dealer has been in business for less than one year.

126.13(4m) (4m) Interim financial statement. The department may, at any time, require a grain dealer licensed under s. 126.11 to file an interim financial statement with the department. An interim financial statement need not be a reviewed financial statement or an audited financial statement.

126.13(5) (5) Generally accepted accounting principles.

126.13(5)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a grain dealer filing an annual financial statement under this section shall file a financial statement that is prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles.

126.13(5)(b) (b) If a grain dealer is a sole proprietor and the grain dealer’s financial statement is not audited, the grain dealer shall file a financial statement that is prepared on a historical cost basis.

126.13(6) (6) Financial statement contents.

126.13(6)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a grain dealer filing a financial statement under this section shall file a financial statement that consists of a balance sheet, income statement, equity statement, statement of cash flows, notes to those statements, and any other information required by the department. If the grain dealer is a sole proprietor, the grain dealer shall file his or her business and personal financial statements. A grain dealer shall disclose on the grain dealer’s financial statement, separately and clearly, the grain dealer’s unpaid obligations to grain producers and producer agents.

126.13(6)(b) (b) If a grain dealer has been in business for less than one year, the grain dealer may file an annual financial statement under sub. (1) or (2) consisting of a balance sheet and notes.

126.13(6)(c) (c) A grain dealer filing a financial statement under this section shall include in the financial statement, or in an attachment to the financial statement, calculations of all of the following:

126.13(6)(c)1. 1. The grain dealer’s current ratio, excluding any assets required to be excluded under sub. (7).

126.13(6)(c)2. 2. The grain dealer’s debt to equity ratio, excluding any assets required to be excluded under sub. (7).

126.13(7) (7) Assets excluded. A grain dealer may not include any of the following assets in the calculations under sub. (6) (c) unless the department specifically approves their inclusion:

126.13(7)(a) (a) A nontrade note or account receivable from an officer, director, employee, partner, or stockholder, or from a member of the family of any of those individuals, unless the note or account receivable is secured by a first priority security interest in real or personal property.

126.13(7)(b) (b) A note or account receivable from a parent organization, a subsidiary, or an affiliate, other than an employee.

126.13(7)(c) (c) A note or account that has been receivable for more than one year, unless the grain dealer has established an offsetting reserve for uncollectible notes and accounts receivable.

126.13(9) (9) Entity covered. A person filing a financial statement under this section may not file, in lieu of that person’s financial statement, the financial statement of the person’s parent organization, subsidiary, predecessor, or successor.

126.13(10) (10) Department review. The department may analyze a financial statement submitted under this section and may reject a financial statement that fails to comply with this section.