Chapter 94

94.55(2)(b)4g. 4g. The department may set criteria for approving persons to undertake any sampling and testing required by the department by rule. The department shall approve persons that meet the criteria to the extent allowed under federal law.

94.55(2)(b)4m. 4m. When sampling and testing a crop of hemp, the department is not required to sample and test every growing location or every strain. The department may not require the sampling and testing of hemp seedlings or clones that are intended to be planted and that originated from hemp seed certified under par. (c) or from hemp seed or clones approved for growing under par. (f).

94.55(2)(b)4s. 4s. Following any required sampling and testing, or if the department determines that sampling and testing are not required, the department shall issue a certificate that states that the hemp has been tested or is not required to be tested for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration and is in compliance with this section and rules promulgated under this section.

94.55(2)(b)5. 5. The department shall ensure that any of the following information that is in the department’s possession relating to a licensee or applicant for a license under this section is confidential and not open to public inspection or copying under s. 19.35 (1), except that it shall be made available to a law enforcement agency or law enforcement officer:

94.55(2)(b)5.a. a. Information relating to the locations of hemp production locations.

94.55(2)(b)5.b. b. Personally identifiable information relating to a person who is lawfully engaging in activities related to hemp, unless the person elects, during the application and licensing or renewal process, for the department to release any or all of the person’s personally identifiable information.

94.55(2)(b)5.c. c. Information obtained about an individual as a result of any criminal history search performed in relation to authorizing the individual to engage in activities related to hemp.

94.55(2)(b)5.d. d. Any other information about activities related to hemp that could create a security risk if disclosed.

94.55(2)(b)6. 6. The department shall promulgate rules setting forth the factors to be considered when determining whether to refer a person for prosecution under s. 961.32 (3) (c).

94.55(2)(c) (c) The department shall establish and administer a certification program, or shall designate a member of the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies or a successor organization to administer a certification program, for hemp seed in this state. A certification program under this paragraph shall include the testing and certification of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations in hemp plants from which certified seed is collected. Participation in the certification program shall be voluntary for producers of hemp. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of any certification program established and administered by the department under this paragraph.

94.55(2)(d) (d) The department of justice shall provide information to the department that the department has identified, by rule, as necessary to administer the provisions under this subsection.

94.55(2)(f) (f) Before growing hemp, a hemp producer shall notify the department of the variety of hemp the producer intends to grow. A hemp producer may not grow hemp unless the department has approved the growth of that variety of hemp or the variety of hemp is certified under par. (c).

94.55(2g) (2g) Negligent violations.

94.55(2g)(a) (a) This subsection applies only to hemp producers, and only if the department determines that the hemp producer has negligently violated this section or rules promulgated under this section, including by negligently doing any of the following:

94.55(2g)(a)1. 1. Failing to provide a legal description of land on which the producer produces hemp.

94.55(2g)(a)2. 2. If required under federal law, failing to obtain a license or other required authorization from the department or from the U.S. department of agriculture.

94.55(2g)(a)3. 3. Producing Cannabis sativa L. with a delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis or the maximum concentration allowed by law up to 1 percent.

94.55(2g)(b) (b) A hemp producer who negligently violates this section or rules promulgated under this section shall comply with a plan established by the department to correct the negligent violation, which shall include all of the following:

94.55(2g)(b)1. 1. A reasonable date by which the hemp producer is required to correct the negligent violation.

94.55(2g)(b)2. 2. A requirement that the hemp producer periodically report to the department on the compliance of the hemp producer with the department’s plan for a period of not less than the following 2 years.

94.55(2g)(c) (c) A hemp producer who negligently violates this section or rules promulgated under this section 3 times in any 5-year period is ineligible to produce hemp for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of the 3rd violation.

94.55(2m) (2m) Greater violations. If the department determines that a hemp producer has violated this section or rules promulgated under this section with a culpable mental state greater than negligence, the department shall immediately report the hemp producer to the U.S. attorney general and the department of justice.

94.55(2p) (2p) Felony convictions. The department, with the assistance of the department of justice, shall, if required for federal authorization of this state’s hemp program, conduct a background investigation of any person who applies to the department to produce hemp in this state, which shall include requiring the person to be fingerprinted on 2 fingerprint cards each bearing a complete set of the person’s fingerprints, or by other technologies approved by law enforcement agencies. The department of justice shall submit any such fingerprint cards to the federal bureau of investigation for the purposes of verifying the identity of the person fingerprinted and obtaining records of his or her criminal arrests and convictions. No person may produce hemp in this state for 10 years following any felony conviction relating to a controlled substance under state or federal law unless the person held a valid license, registration, or other authorization to produce hemp under a pilot program of any state authorized by section 7606 of the federal agricultural act of 2014 on December 20, 2018, and the felony conviction occurred prior to that date.

94.55(2r) (2r) False statement. Any person who materially falsifies any information contained in an application to participate in the hemp program established under this section is ineligible to participate in the program.

94.55(2t) (2t) Access to cannabidiol products. Nothing in this section or rules promulgated under this section shall be construed as limiting a person’s access to cannabidiol products under s. 961.32 (2m) (b).

94.55(3m) (3m) Truth in labeling.

94.55(3m)(a) (a) No person may do any of the following:

94.55(3m)(a)1. 1. Mislabel hemp or a hemp product.

94.55(3m)(a)2. 2. Knowingly make an inaccurate claim about the content, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration, quality, or origin of hemp or a hemp product in the course of transferring or selling the hemp or hemp product.

94.55(3m)(a)3. 3. Knowingly sell at retail mislabelled hemp or hemp products.

94.55(3m)(b) (b) The department shall investigate violations of par. (a). The department, or any district attorney or the department of justice upon the request of the department, may on behalf of the state do any of the following:

94.55(3m)(b)1. 1. Bring an action for temporary or permanent injunctive relief in any court of competent jurisdiction for any violation of par. (a).

94.55(3m)(b)2. 2. Bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for the recovery of a civil forfeiture against any person who violates par. (a) in an amount not more than $1,000 for each violation.

94.55(3m)(c) (c) In addition to any other remedies provided by law, any person suffering a pecuniary loss because of a violation of par. (a) may bring a civil action to recover damages together with costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney fees, and for equitable relief as determined by the court.

94.55(3r) (3r) Private cause of action for grower contracts. Any contract to purchase hemp from a hemp grower in this state shall provide that payment will be made to the grower within 7 days of taking possession of the hemp, unless the grower voluntarily and knowingly agrees to a different method of payment. In addition to any other remedies provided by law, any person suffering a pecuniary loss because of a violation of this subsection may bring a civil action to recover damages together with costs and disbursements, including reasonable attorney fees, notwithstanding s. 814.04 (1), and for equitable relief as determined by the court.

94.55(3w) (3w) Emergency rules. When promulgating rules under this section, the department may, as necessary, use the procedure under s. 227.24 to promulgate emergency rules. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (a) and (3), when promulgating emergency rules under this subsection, the department is not required to provide evidence that promulgating a rule under this subsection as an emergency rule is necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or welfare and is not required to provide a finding of emergency for a rule promulgated under this subsection. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (c) and (2), initial emergency rules and subsequent emergency rules promulgated under this subsection remain in effect until the date on which permanent rules take effect. Notwithstanding s. 227.24 (1) (e) 1d. and 1g., for emergency rules promulgated under this subsection, the department is not required to prepare a statement of scope of the rules or to submit the proposed rules in final draft form to the governor for approval.

94.55(4) (4) Penalties. A person who violates any provision of this section, or an order issued or rule promulgated under this section, may be required to forfeit not less than $200 nor more than $5,000 or, for an offense committed within 5 years of an offense for which a penalty has been assessed under this section, may be required to forfeit not less than $400 nor more than $10,000.

94.55 History History: 2017 a. 100; 2019 a. 68.

94.64 94.64 Fertilizer.

94.64(1) (1) Definitions. As used in this section:

94.64(1)(a) (a) “Brand or product name” means a name term, design or trademark used in connection with one or more grades of fertilizer and which identifies the product as fertilizer.

94.64(1)(b) (b) “Bulk fertilizer” means fertilizer distributed in a nonpackaged form.

94.64(1)(c) (c) “Custom mixed fertilizer” means a mixed fertilizer formulated according to individual specifications furnished by the consumer prior to mixing.

94.64(1)(d) (d) “Distribute” means to import, consign, sell, offer for sale, solicit orders for sale, or otherwise supply fertilizer for sale or use in this state.

94.64(1)(e) (e) “Fertilizer” means any substance, containing one or more plant nutrients, which is used for its plant nutrient content and which is designed for use or claimed to have value in promoting plant growth, except unmanipulated animal or vegetable manures, marl, liming material, sewage sludge other than finished sewage sludge products, and wood ashes. “Fertilizer” includes fertilizer materials, mixed fertilizers, custom mixed fertilizers, nonagricultural fertilizers and all other fertilizers or mixtures of fertilizers, regardless of type or form.

94.64(1)(f) (f) “Fertilizer material” means an element or chemical compound, or a substance manufactured by chemical reaction, which:

94.64(1)(f)1. 1. Contains one or more plant nutrients; and

94.64(1)(f)2. 2. Constitutes a component of fertilizer or is used to compound fertilizer.

94.64(1)(fm) (fm) “Finished sewage sludge product” means a product consisting in whole or in part of sewage sludge that is distributed to the public and that is disinfected by means of composting, pasteurization, wet air oxidation, heat treatment or other means.

94.64(1)(g) (g) “Grade” means the percentage guarantee of total nitrogen, available phosphorus or available phosphate, and soluble potassium or soluble potash stated in the same order as listed in this paragraph.

94.64(1)(h) (h) “Guaranteed analysis” means the percentage of each plant nutrient guaranteed or claimed to be present.

94.64(1)(i) (i) “Label” means any written, printed or graphic matter on or attached to packaged fertilizer or which is used to identify fertilizer distributed in bulk or held in bulk storage.

94.64(1)(j) (j) “Labeling” means all labels and other written, printed or graphic matter upon or accompanying fertilizer at any time, and includes advertising or sales literature.

94.64(1)(k) (k) “Manufacture” means to process, granulate, compound, produce, mix, blend or alter the composition of fertilizer or fertilizer materials.

94.64(1)(L) (L) “Mixed fertilizer” means a fertilizer containing any combination or mixture of fertilizer materials, or a fertilizer material and any other substance. A fertilizer material that contains impurities incident to the normal manufacturing or processing operations of that fertilizer material is not a mixed fertilizer as a result of the presence of such impurities unless the impurities are claimed as plant nutrients or fertilizer materials.

94.64(1)(Lm) (Lm) “Nonagricultural fertilizer” means any fertilizer distributed for nonfarm use, such as for home gardens, lawns, shrubbery, flowers, golf courses, parks, cemeteries, greenhouses or nurseries or for research or experimental purposes.

94.64(1)(m) (m) “Official sample” means a sample of fertilizer taken by a representative of the department in accordance with methods prescribed by department rules.

94.64(1)(n) (n) “Packaged fertilizer” means any type of fertilizer sold in closed containers.

94.64(1)(o) (o) “Percent” and “percentage” mean the percentage by weight.

94.64(1)(p) (p) “Plant nutrient” means boron, calcium, chlorine, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nitrogen, phosphorus or available phosphate, potassium or potash, sodium, sulfur, zinc or any other chemical element recognized as a plant nutrient by department rule.

94.64(1)(pm) (pm) “Sewage sludge” means the residue material resulting from the treatment of sewage. In this paragraph, “sewage” has the meaning specified in s. 281.01 (13).

94.64(1)(q) (q) “Special-use fertilizer” means fertilizer designed and labeled for use in remedying nutrient deficiencies which are unique to certain crops or certain local areas.

94.64(1)(r) (r) “Ton” means a net ton of 2,000 pounds avoirdupois.

94.64(1)(t) (t) “Unmanipulated animal or vegetable manure” means animal or vegetable manure which has not been treated by mechanical drying, grinding or pelletizing, by adding a substance or by any other means.

94.64(2) (2) Labeling.

94.64(2)(a) (a) Any packaged fertilizer, including packaged custom mixed fertilizer, distributed in this state shall have placed on or affixed to the package a label setting forth in clearly legible and conspicuous form the following information:

94.64(2)(a)1. 1. Name and address of the licensed manufacturer or distributor.

94.64(2)(a)2. 2. Brand or product name.

94.64(2)(a)3. 3. Grade.

94.64(2)(a)4. 4. Guaranteed analysis.

94.64(2)(a)5. 5. Net weight.

94.64(2)(b) (b) Any fertilizer distributed in this state in bulk shall be accompanied by a written or printed invoice or statement to be furnished to purchaser at time of delivery containing in clearly legible and conspicuous form the following information:

94.64(2)(b)1. 1. Name and address of the licensed manufacturer or distributor.

94.64(2)(b)2. 2. Name and address of the purchaser.

94.64(2)(b)3. 3. Date of sale.

94.64(2)(b)4. 4. Brand or product name.

94.64(2)(b)5. 5. Grade.

94.64(2)(b)6. 6. Guaranteed analysis.

94.64(2)(b)7. 7. Net weight.

94.64(2)(c) (c) In lieu of grade and guaranteed analysis, custom mixed fertilizer sold in bulk may be labeled to show the weight and grade of each material in the mixture and total weight of the mixture. Grade shall be indicated if a grade is specified by the purchaser.

94.64(2)(d) (d) All fertilizer in bulk storage shall be identified with a label attached to the storage bin or container giving the name or grade of the product.

94.64(2)(e) (e)

94.64(2)(e)1. 1. Guaranteed analysis for the primary nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium shall be expressed on the label in the following order and form:

- See PDF for table

94.64(2)(e)2. 2. If elemental guarantees are required by department rule under sub. (9) (a), the guaranteed analysis shall be expressed in terms of percentage of available phosphorus and potassium.

94.64(2)(e)3. 3. Additional plant nutrients, besides nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, claimed to be present in any form or manner shall be guaranteed on the elemental basis. Other beneficial substances or compounds, determinable by laboratory methods, may be guaranteed if approved by the department.

94.64(3) (3) Fertilizer license.

94.64(3)(a) (a)

94.64(3)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., no person may manufacture or distribute fertilizer in this state without an annual license from the department. A separate license is required for each business location and each mobile unit at which the person manufactures fertilizer. A license expires on September 30 annually and is not transferable between persons or locations.