Chapter 92

92.14(6)(gm) (gm) A county may not provide cost-sharing funds using funds provided under this section in an amount that exceeds 70 percent of the cost of a project, except in cases of economic hardship, as defined by the department by rule.

92.14(6)(h) (h)

92.14(6)(h)1. 1. A county may not provide cost-sharing funds using funds provided under this section for the construction of any facility or system related to animal waste management unless all of the following conditions are met:

92.14(6)(h)1.a. a. The facility or system is necessary to meet surface water or groundwater quality objectives.

92.14(6)(h)1.b. b. The facility or system is designed consistent with rules of the department and with the technical standards of the county and is designed to be constructed and operated to avoid water pollution.

92.14(6)(h)1.c. c. The facility or system will use the most cost-effective method to meet water quality standards.

92.14(6)(h)1.d. d. The grant for the facility or system, combined with all other governmental funding, is no more than an amount specified by the department by rule, except that there is no limit on the amount of the grant if the principal purpose of the facility or system is to prevent or control barnyard runoff.

92.14(6)(h)3. 3. Nothing in this paragraph affects the authority of the department of natural resources to act under ch. 283.

92.14(6)(i) (i) No cost-sharing funds from any grant awarded under this section may be distributed to a landowner or land user unless he or she, by contract with the grant recipient, agrees to do all of the following:

92.14(6)(i)1. 1. Maintain any funded practice for its normal expected life, replace it with an equally effective practice or improvement or repay the cost-sharing funds to the grant recipient.

92.14(6)(i)2. 2. Conduct all land management and pollutant management activities in substantial accordance with the performance standards, prohibitions, conservation practices and technical standards under s. 281.16 and with plans approved under this section, under s. 92.15, 1985 stats., and under ss. 92.10 and 281.65, or to repay the cost-sharing funds.

92.14(6)(k) (k) The department shall identify by rule the types of cost-shared practices and the minimum grant amounts for cost-sharing grants that require any subsequent owner of the property to maintain the cost-shared practice for the life of the cost-shared practice, as determined by the department.

92.14(6)(L) (L) A county may provide cost-sharing funds from a grant under this section to replace a structure or facility at a new location, rather than to repair or reconstruct the structure or facility, if the relocation reduces water pollution and replacement is cost-effective compared to repairing or reconstructing the structure or facility.

92.14(6)(m) (m) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and the department of natural resources shall assist counties in conducting the activities for which grants under sub. (3) may be used.

92.14(7) (7) Maintenance of effort. The department may not make a grant to a county under this section in any fiscal year unless that county enters into an agreement with the department to maintain or increase its aggregate expenditures from other sources for land and water conservation activities at or above the average level of such expenditures in its 2 fiscal years preceding August 1, 1987.

92.14(8) (8) Rules. In consultation with the department of natural resources, the department shall promulgate rules to administer this section and the department’s duties under s. 281.65.

92.14(10) (10) Training. The department may contract with any person for services to administer or implement this chapter, including information and education and training.

92.14(12) (12) Annual report. Annually, the department, in cooperation with the department of natural resources, shall submit a report on the progress of the program under this section and s. 281.65 to the board.

92.14(13) (13) Evaluation plan. The department, jointly with the department of natural resources, shall prepare a plan, which includes water quality monitoring and analysis, for evaluating the program administered under this section and s. 281.65 and submit the plan to the board. The board shall make recommendations to the department and the department of natural resources on the plan. The department shall review and approve or disapprove the plan and shall notify the board of its final action on the plan. The department shall implement any part of the plan for which the plan gives it responsibility.

92.14(14) (14) Application, allocation, reporting and evaluation. The department, jointly with the department of natural resources, shall develop a single set of grant application, reporting and evaluation forms for use by counties receiving grants under this section and ss. 281.65 and 281.66. The department, jointly with the department of natural resources, shall implement a single process for grant application, funding allocation, reporting and evaluation for counties receiving grants under this section and ss. 281.65 and 281.66.

92.14(14m) (14m) Coordination. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and the department of natural resources, jointly, shall review applications from counties for grants under sub. (5r) and, for projects and activities selected to receive funding shall determine whether to provide funding under this section or under s. 281.65 or 281.66.

92.14(15) (15) Financial information. The department shall consult with the department of natural resources when it prepares the information which it submits to the department of administration under s. 16.42.

92.14(16) (16) Commercial nitrogen optimization pilot program.

92.14(16)(a) (a) In addition to any grants provided under sub. (3), the department shall award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (qf) to agricultural producers and to University of Wisconsin System institutions as provided under this subsection.

92.14(16)(b) (b) An agricultural producer may apply for and receive a grant to implement a project, for at least 2 growing seasons, that optimizes the application of commercial nitrogen. Any agricultural producer receiving a grant under this subsection shall collaborate with any University of Wisconsin System institution under par. (c).

92.14(16)(c) (c) A University of Wisconsin System institution shall collaborate with an agricultural producer that applies for a grant under par. (b) to monitor the grant project on-site. A collaborating institution may receive a grant to implement the monitoring under this paragraph.

92.14(16)(d) (d) The department may not make a grant to an agricultural producer and the University of Wisconsin System institution collaborating with the agricultural producer in an amount that totals more than $50,000. No more than 20 percent of this total amount may be awarded to the collaborating University of Wisconsin System institution.

92.14(16)(e) (e) In making a grant under this subsection, the department shall collaborate with the University of Wisconsin System institution and the agricultural producer. The department shall also seek to provide grants to agricultural producers in different parts of the state and to provide grants for projects in areas that have different soil types or geologic characteristics. The department shall prioritize projects that are innovative and that are not currently funded through existing state or federal programs and shall prioritize agricultural producers that plan to implement projects for longer periods.

92.14(16)(f) (f) An agricultural producer and the University of Wisconsin System institution collaborating with the agricultural producer in implementing a project under this subsection may not be held civilly liable and may not be subject to any remedial action or other administrative or enforcement action from the department or the department of natural resources for any discharge of environmental pollution from the land involved in the project, if the actions were taken in good faith by the agricultural producer and the institution and conformed to the project specifications that were proposed to the department in an application for a grant under this subsection.

92.14(16)(g) (g) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this subsection.

92.14(17) (17) Crop insurance premium rebates for planting cover crops.

92.14(17)(a) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (qf), the department may provide rebates in the amount of $5 for each acre of a cover crop planted for crop insurance premiums paid on those acres. In providing crop insurance premium rebates under this subsection, the department may cooperate with the risk management agency of the U.S. department of agriculture, and may cooperate with any related federal agency, state agency, or agricultural organization.

92.14(17)(b) (b) In providing crop insurance premium rebates under this subsection, the department may promulgate the following rules:

92.14(17)(b)1. 1. Rules determining the cover crops for which crop insurance premium rebates are provided under this subsection.

92.14(17)(b)2. 2. Rules establishing procedures for verifying that a cover crop is planted on acres for which a crop insurance premium rebate is provided under this subsection.

92.14(17)(b)3. 3. Rules determining the maximum amount of acres for which an applicant may receive funding in a year, except that the department may impose such a maximum only in years in which the total amount of funding requested by eligible applicants exceeds the total funding available.

92.14(17)(b)4. 4. Rules establishing the application and award process, including the application deadline and grant award schedule.

92.14(17)(c) (c) The department may not provide a crop insurance premium rebate under this subsection for the planting of a cover crop on an acre for which funding for planting a cover crop is provided from a federal or state grant or incentive program other than this subsection, including from any of the following:

92.14(17)(c)1. 1. The federal environmental quality incentives program under 16 USC 3839aa to 3839-8.

92.14(17)(c)2. 2. The federal conservation stewardship program under 16 USC 3839aa-21 to 3839aa-25.

92.14(17)(c)3. 3. A producer-led watershed protection grant under s. 93.59.

92.14(17)(c)4. 4. A grant provided under sub. (3).

92.14(17)(c)5. 5. A lake management planning grant under s. 281.68.

92.14(17)(c)6. 6. A lake management grant under s. 281.69.

92.14(17)(c)7. 7. A river protection grant under s. 281.70.

92.14(17)(d) (d) To receive a crop insurance premium rebate under this subsection, a person shall submit an application to the department, under the process established by the department by rule, after a cover crop is planted on the acres for which the person applies for a crop insurance premium rebate.

92.14(17)(e) (e) The department may conduct inspections to verify that recipients of a crop insurance premium rebate are in compliance with the provisions of this subsection and any rules promulgated under this subsection.

92.14 History History: 1987 a. 27, 297; 1989 a. 56; 1991 a. 39, 309; 1993 a. 16, 166, 213; 1995 a. 27, 225, 227; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9, 185; 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 28; 2017 a. 59; 2021 a. 223.

92.15 92.15 Local regulation of livestock operations.

92.15(1) (1) In this section:

92.15(1)(a) (a) “Livestock operation” means a feedlot or other facility or a pasture where animals are fed, confined, maintained or stabled.

92.15(1)(b) (b) “Local governmental unit” means a political subdivision of this state, a special purpose district in this state, an instrumentality or corporation of such a political subdivision or special purpose district, a combination or subunit of any of the foregoing or an instrumentality of the state and any of the foregoing.

92.15(2) (2) Notwithstanding ss. 92.11 and 92.17, a local governmental unit may enact regulations of livestock operations that are consistent with and do not exceed the performance standards, prohibitions, conservation practices and technical standards under s. 281.16 (3).

92.15(3) (3) 

92.15(3)(a) (a) Notwithstanding ss. 92.11 and 92.17, a local governmental unit may enact regulations of livestock operations that exceed the performance standards, prohibitions, conservation practices and technical standards under s. 281.16 (3) only if the local governmental unit demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection or the department of natural resources that the regulations are necessary to achieve water quality standards under s. 281.15.

92.15(3)(b) (b) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection and the department of natural resources shall, by rule, specify procedures for review and approval of proposed local governmental unit regulations under par. (a).

92.15(4) (4) A local governmental unit may not apply a regulation under sub. (2) or (3) to a livestock operation that exists on October 14, 1997, unless the local governmental unit determines, using the rules promulgated under s. 281.16 (3) (e), that cost-sharing is available to the owner or operator of the livestock operation under s. 92.14 or 281.65 or from any other source.

92.15(5) (5) Any livestock operation that exists on October 14, 1997, and that is required to obtain a permit under s. 283.31 or that receives a notice of discharge under ch. 283 may continue to operate as a livestock operation at the same location notwithstanding s. 59.69 (10) (am) or 62.23 (7) (h) or any zoning ordinance enacted under s. 59.69, 60.61, 60.62, 61.35 or 62.23 (7), if the livestock operation is a lawful use or a legal nonconforming use under any zoning ordinance enacted under s. 59.69, 60.61, 60.62, 61.35 or 62.23 (7) on October 14, 1997.

92.15 History History: 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2011 a. 170.

92.15 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 151, Wis. adm. code.

92.16 92.16 Manure storage facilities. A county, city, village or town may enact an ordinance requiring manure storage facilities constructed after July 2, 1983, to meet the technical standards of the county, city, village or town and rules of the department. The department shall adopt rules for ordinances setting standards and criteria for construction of manure storage facilities.

92.16 History History: 1983 a. 27; Stats. 1983 s. 92.16; 1983 a. 410 s. 24n; Stats. 1983 s. 92.34; 1985 a. 8 s. 10; Stats. 1985 s. 92.16; 1987 a. 27; 1993 a. 246.

92.16 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. ATCP 50.95, Wis. adm. code.

92.16 Annotation An ordinance passed under this section is applicable only in unincorporated areas of the county. 77 Atty. Gen. 87.

92.17 92.17 Shoreland management.

92.17(1) (1) Guidelines ordinance. The guidelines for a shoreland management ordinance shall establish standards for activities related to the purpose of maintaining and improving surface water quality.

92.17(2) (2) Authority to enact ordinance.

92.17(2)(a) (a) A city or village may enact a shoreland management ordinance.

92.17(2)(ag) (ag) A county may enact a shoreland management ordinance. A county shoreland management ordinance does not apply in any town that enacts an ordinance under par. (ar).

92.17(2)(ar) (ar) A town may enact a shoreland management ordinance that is prepared under sub. (1).

92.17(2)(b) (b) If a county, city or village proposes to enact an ordinance based on the guidelines prepared under sub. (1), or if a town proposes to enact a shoreland management ordinance, the county, city, village or town shall submit a draft of the ordinance to the department.

92.17(2)(c) (c) The board shall review a draft of an ordinance submitted under par. (b) and make recommendations to the department.

92.17(2)(d) (d) The department shall review and approve or disapprove a draft of an ordinance submitted under par. (b).

92.17(2)(e) (e) A county, city or village may enact an ordinance based on the guidelines prepared under sub. (1) only if the draft of the ordinance is approved by the department under par. (d). A town may enact a shoreland management ordinance only if the draft of the ordinance is approved by the department under par. (d).

92.17(2m) (2m) Authority to enforce ordinance. A county may not enforce a shoreland management ordinance unless the county uses funds provided under s. 92.14 (3) for grants for the purposes under s. 92.14 (3) (b). A city, village or town may not enforce a shoreland management ordinance unless the county in which the city, village or town is located uses funds provided under s. 92.14 (3) for grants for the purposes under s. 92.14 (3) (b).

92.17(2r) (2r) Department not to require enactment. The department may not require a county, city, village or town to enact an ordinance under this section as a condition of any other program administered by the department.

92.17(4) (4) Cooperation. The department shall consult with the governing bodies of counties, cities, villages and towns to secure voluntary uniformity of regulations, so far as practicable, shall identify low-cost practices and shall extend assistance to counties, cities, villages and towns under this section.

92.17 History History: 1991 a. 309; 1993 a. 213; 1999 a. 9.

92.17 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. ATCP 50.58, Wis. adm. code.

92.18 92.18 Training and certification.

92.18(1) (1) The department shall, by rule, establish a program of training and certification for persons who review plans for, conduct inspections of or engage in activities under any of the following:

92.18(1)(a) (a) This chapter.

92.18(1)(b) (b) Section 281.65, if those activities relate to agricultural practices.

92.18(2) (2) The department shall do all of the following:

92.18(2)(a) (a) Identify those persons involved in plan review or inspections who are required to obtain certification.

92.18(2)(b) (b) Establish the requirements for and the term of initial certification, and the requirements for recertification upon expiration of that term. To the extent possible, the department shall establish the requirements for certification in conformance with the engineering approval system used by the federal soil conservation service in providing technical assistance under 7 CFR 610.1 to 610.5. The department may require applicants to pass an examination in order to receive initial certification.

92.18(2)(c) (c) Establish different levels of certification as the department determines is appropriate.

92.18(2)(d) (d) Identify persons other than inspectors and plan reviewers who may benefit from the training program, and encourage those persons to enroll in the training program.

92.18(2m) (2m) If a person is certified under this section to review plans for, or conduct inspections of, a type of agricultural engineering practice at one of the levels under sub. (2) (c), the department shall allow the person to review plans for, or conduct inspections of, all types of agricultural engineering practices at that same level without requiring any additional certification.