Chapter 126

126.31 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 38, 320; 2009 a. 296.

126.32 126.32 Grain warehouse keepers; records.

126.32(1) (1) Records and accounts; general. A grain warehouse keeper shall maintain current, complete, and accurate records and accounts of all grain received into and withdrawn from each grain warehouse, including records required under subs. (2) and (3).

126.32(2) (2) Daily position records. A grain warehouse keeper shall keep daily position records for each type of grain, so that the grain warehouse keeper and the department can easily determine all of the following on a daily basis:

126.32(2)(a) (a) The total amount of grain held by the warehouse keeper, including grain under pars. (b) and (c).

126.32(2)(b) (b) The total amount of grain that the warehouse keeper holds for others.

126.32(2)(c) (c) The total amount of grain held by the warehouse keeper of which the warehouse keeper claims ownership.

126.32(2)(d) (d) The warehouse keeper’s total grain obligations to depositors.

126.32(3) (3) Depositor records. A grain warehouse keeper shall keep for each depositor, in a form that the grain warehouse keeper and the department can easily retrieve, records of all of the following:

126.32(3)(a) (a) The depositor’s name and address.

126.32(3)(b) (b) The kinds and amounts of grain that the grain warehouse keeper received from the depositor, the receipt dates, and the terms under which the grain warehouse keeper received the grain.

126.32(3)(c) (c) The kinds and amounts of grain that the grain warehouse keeper has released to the depositor and the release dates.

126.32(3)(d) (d) The kinds and amounts of grain that the grain warehouse keeper holds for the depositor. The grain warehouse keeper shall update this record on a daily basis.

126.32(4) (4) Adjusting records.

126.32(4)(a) (a) Whenever a grain warehouse keeper alters a record entry under sub. (2) or (3), the grain warehouse keeper shall clearly identify and explain the alteration so that the reason for the alteration is clear to a person reviewing the records.

126.32(4)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (c), a grain warehouse keeper may not alter a record entry under sub. (2) or (3) without the department’s prior approval.

126.32(4)(c) (c) A grain warehouse keeper may, without the department’s prior approval, correct a record entry under sub. (2) or (3) for any of the following reasons:

126.32(4)(c)1. 1. To account for handling losses, if the warehouse keeper corrects for handling losses at least monthly.

126.32(4)(c)2. 2. To account for errors or omissions related to the receipt or withdrawal of grain, if the warehouse keeper has documentation to support the correction.

126.32(5) (5) Records retention; availability.

126.32(5)(a) (a) A grain warehouse keeper shall retain all records required under this section and s. 126.33 (3) for at least 6 years from the date of their creation.

126.32(5)(b) (b) If a grain warehouse keeper keeps records under subs. (2) and (3) in computerized form, the grain warehouse keeper shall generate a hard copy printout for each business day unless the grain warehouse keeper retains the ability to retrieve and print that day’s computerized record for at least 6 years.

126.32(5)(c) (c) A grain warehouse keeper shall make records required under this section available to the department for inspection and copying upon request.

126.32(6) (6) Reviewing records.

126.32(6)(a) (a) The department shall review the records that a grain warehouse keeper is required to keep under this section. The department shall review a grain warehouse keeper’s records at least annually, except as provided in par. (b).

126.32(6)(b) (b) The department shall review a grain warehouse keeper’s records at least once every 2 years if the grain warehouse keeper files an annual financial statement under s. 126.28 and that annual financial statement shows a current ratio of at least 2.0 to 1.0, positive equity, and a debt to equity ratio of not more than 2.0 to 1.0.

126.32 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 296.

126.33 126.33 Receipts for grain.

126.33(1) (1) Requirement. Immediately after a grain warehouse keeper receives grain from a depositor, the grain warehouse keeper shall give the depositor a warehouse receipt or other storage receipt that includes all of the following:

126.33(1)(a) (a) The name and permanent address of the grain warehouse keeper, the location of the grain warehouse, and a statement indicating whether the grain warehouse keeper is a corporation.

126.33(1)(b) (b) A statement identifying the document as a warehouse receipt or other storage receipt.

126.33(1)(c) (c) The date on which the grain warehouse keeper received the grain.

126.33(1)(d) (d) The kind of grain received.

126.33(1)(e) (e) The net weight of grain received.

126.33(1)(f) (f) The grade and quality of grain received, if determined.

126.33(1)(g) (g) The word “negotiable” or “nonnegotiable,” conspicuously, if the document is issued as a warehouse receipt. If a grain warehouse keeper transfers depositor-owned grain to another warehouse keeper, the receiving grain warehouse keeper shall issue a receipt that conspicuously bears the word “nonnegotiable.”

126.33(1)(h) (h) A statement indicating that the depositor must remove the grain from storage by a specified date that is not more than 3 years after the date of deposit. This requirement does not apply to any of the following:

126.33(1)(h)1. 1. A warehouse receipt.

126.33(1)(h)2. 2. A receipt for grain owned by the federal commodity credit corporation.

126.33(1)(h)3. 3. A receipt for grain pledged as collateral for a loan from the federal department of agriculture.

126.33(2) (2) Grain ownership. If a person delivers grain to a recipient who is both a grain warehouse keeper and a grain dealer, as defined in s. 126.10 (9), the delivery is considered a deposit for storage unless it is clearly documented as a delivery of purchased grain. A receipt issued by such a recipient is considered a storage receipt unless it is clearly designated as a receipt for the delivery of purchased grain.

126.33(3) (3) Warehouse keeper’s copy. A grain warehouse keeper shall keep a copy of every warehouse receipt and other document that the grain warehouse keeper issues under sub. (1). The grain warehouse keeper shall retain a copy of each document for at least 6 years after the grain warehouse keeper issues the document and shall make copies available to the department for inspection and copying upon request.

126.33 History History: 2001 a. 16.

126.34 126.34 Grain warehouse keepers; business practices.

126.34(1) (1) Grain weight, grade, and quality. A grain warehouse keeper shall do all of the following when determining the weight, grade, or quality of grain:

126.34(1)(a) (a) Accurately determine the weight, grade, or quality using accurate weighing, testing, or grading equipment.

126.34(1)(b) (b) Accurately record the determined weight, grade, or quality.

126.34(2) (2) Care of grain; facilities. A grain warehouse keeper shall safeguard grain held for others and shall protect that grain from loss or abnormal deterioration. A grain warehouse keeper shall maintain adequate facilities and equipment for that purpose.

126.34(3) (3) Sufficient inventory. A grain warehouse keeper shall at all times maintain grain inventories sufficient in quantity and quality to meet all outstanding obligations to depositors.

126.34(4) (4) Returning grain to depositors.

126.34(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a grain warehouse keeper shall deliver to a depositor, upon demand, the same grade and amount of grain as was deposited.

126.34(4)(b) (b) If a grain warehouse keeper does not have enough grain of the appropriate grade to satisfy a depositor’s demand under par. (a), the warehouse keeper may substitute any of the following with the agreement of the depositor:

126.34(4)(b)1. 1. A monetary payment sufficient to provide the depositor with equivalent value, based on current local grain prices.

126.34(4)(b)2. 2. A sufficient amount of a higher grade of grain to provide the depositor with equivalent value, based on current local grain prices.

126.34(4)(c) (c) A grain warehouse keeper may not provide grain or payments under par. (b) whose value exceeds the current value of the grain that was deposited.

126.34(5) (5) Prohibited practices. No grain warehouse keeper, or officer, employee, or agent of a grain warehouse keeper, may do any of the following:

126.34(5)(a) (a) Misrepresent the weight, grade, or quality of depositor grain received from or delivered to any person.

126.34(5)(b) (b) Falsify any record or account, or conspire with any other person to falsify a record or account.

126.34(5)(c) (c) Make any false or misleading representation to the department.

126.34(5)(d) (d) If the grain warehouse keeper is licensed under s. 126.26 (1), engage in any activity that is inconsistent with representations made in the grain warehouse keeper’s annual license application.

126.34(5)(e) (e) Make any false or misleading representation to a depositor related to matters regulated under this chapter.

126.34(5)(f) (f) Fail to file the full amount of security required under s. 126.31 (6) by the date that the department specifies.

126.34(5)(g) (g) Assault, threaten, intimidate, or otherwise interfere with an officer, employee, or agent of the department in the performance of his or her duties.

126.34 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 296.

subch. V of ch. 126 SUBCHAPTER V

MILK CONTRACTORS

Subch. V of ch. 126 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ATCP 100, Wis. adm. code.

126.40 126.40 Definitions. In this subchapter:

126.40(1) (1) “Contributing milk contractor” means a milk contractor who is licensed under s. 126.41 (1), who has not been disqualified from the fund under s. 126.45 (3), and who either:

126.40(1)(a) (a) Has paid one or more fund assessments under s. 126.46.

126.40(1)(b) (b) Is required to contribute to the fund but the first fund assessment under s. 126.46 (6) is not yet due.

126.40(2) (2) “Current ratio” means the ratio of the value of current assets to the value of current liabilities, calculated according to s. 126.44 (8) (c) 1.

126.40(3) (3) “Dairy farm” has the meaning given in s. 97.22 (1) (a).

126.40(4) (4) “Dairy plant” has the meaning given in s. 97.20 (1) (a).

126.40(5) (5) “Dairy plant operator” means a person who holds or is required to hold a dairy plant license under s. 97.20.

126.40(6) (6) “Debt to equity ratio” means the ratio of the value of liabilities to equity, calculated according to s. 126.44 (8) (c) 2.

126.40(6m) (6m) “Deferred payment contract” means a contract for the procurement of producer milk under which all of the following apply to a milk contractor’s payment:

126.40(6m)(a) (a) For producer milk received during the first 15 days of the preceding month, the milk contractor’s payment is due after the 4th day of the month, based on an estimated price that is at least 80 percent of the class III price published by the regional federal milk market administrator for the month preceding the month in which the milk is received, or 80 percent of the contract price, whichever is greater.

126.40(6m)(b) (b) For producer milk received during the preceding month, the balance of the milk contractor’s payment is due after the 19th day of the month.

126.40(7) (7) “Disqualified milk contractor” means a milk contractor who is disqualified from the fund under s. 126.45 (3).

126.40(7e) (7e) “Estimated default exposure” means the sum of the following:

126.40(7e)(a) (a) Seventy-five percent of the following:

126.40(7e)(a)1. 1. If the milk contractor reports unpaid milk payroll obligations under ss. 126.41 (6) (b) 1. and 126.47 (5m) (b) 1., the highest amount of unpaid milk payroll obligations, reported under s. 126.41 (6) (b) 1. or 126.47 (5m) (b) 1., that the milk contractor had at any time during the last 12 months.

126.40(7e)(a)2. 2. If the milk contractor reports monthly milk payroll obligations under ss. 126.41 (6) (b) 2. and 126.47 (5m) (b) 2., the highest amount of milk payroll obligations, reported under s. 126.41 (6) (b) 2. or 126.47 (5m) (b) 2., that the milk contractor incurred in any month during the last 12 months.

126.40(7e)(b) (b) The milk contractor’s highest total, at any time during the 12 preceding months, of unpaid obligations for producer milk procured in this state under a deferred payment contract, excluding any unpaid obligations under a deferred payment contract, for milk procured in this state, with a milk producer or producer agent that has, under s. 126.70 (1) (b), permanently waived eligibility to file a default claim against the milk contractor.

126.40(7m) (7m) “License year” means the period beginning on May 1 and ending on the following April 30.

126.40(8) (8) “Milk contractor” means a person who buys producer milk or who markets producer milk as a producer agent. “Milk contractor” does not include any of the following:

126.40(8)(a) (a) A person who merely brokers a contract between a milk producer and a milk contractor, without becoming a party to the contract, taking control of milk, or accepting payment on behalf of the milk producer.

126.40(8)(b) (b) A person who merely buys or sells milk on a board of trade or commodity exchange.