Chapter ATCP 50

ATCP 50.66(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “trail or walkway” means a travel lane to facilitate movement of livestock or people.

ATCP 50.66(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse the cost of establishing a trail or walkway when necessary to comply with state or local regulations.

ATCP 50.66(3) (3) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse the cost of establishing a trail or walkway unless all of the following conditions are met:

ATCP 50.66(3)(a) (a) The trail or walkway complies with all of the following that apply:

ATCP 50.66(3)(a)1. 1. NRCS conservation practice standard 575 trails and walkways (August, 2021).

ATCP 50.66(3)(a)2. 2. NRCS conservation practice standard 580 streambank and shoreline protection (September, 2021).

ATCP 50.66(3)(a)3. 3. NRCS conservation practice standard 382 fence (January, 2014).

ATCP 50.66(3)(a)4. 4. Section ATCP 50.885 when a trail or walkway crosses a stream.

ATCP 50.66(3)(b) (b) The landowner agrees to maintain the trail or walkway for 10 years unless farming operations on the affected land are discontinued or the practice is no longer required to prevent the soil and water resource problem for which the practice was installed.

ATCP 50.66 History History: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075: am. (3) (a) 1. to 3. Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016: am. (title), (1), (2), (3) (intro.), (a) (intro.), 1. to 3., cr. (3) (a) 4., am. (3) (b) Register February 2014 No. 698, eff. 5-1-14; CR 14-047: am. (3) (a) 1. to 3. Register May 2015 No. 713, eff. 6-1-15; CR 16-012: am. (3) (a) 1., r. (3) (a) 4. Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16; CR 16-083: am. (3) (a) 1. Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18; CR 23-024: am. (3) (a) 1. to 3., cr. (3) (a) 4. Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24.

ATCP 50.663 ATCP 50.663 Conservation cover.

ATCP 50.663(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “conservation cover” refers to the establishment and maintenance of permanent vegetative cover in an agricultural setting to reduce erosion and sedimentation, improve water quality, and improve soil health.

ATCP 50.663(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse any of the following costs:

ATCP 50.663(2)(a) (a) The cost of fencing to protect the planted vegetation.

ATCP 50.663(2)(b) (b) The cost to establish and manage conservation cover, or to provide temporary cover until the planting is established. This may include costs for mulch, seed, and other necessary materials.

ATCP 50.663(2)(c) (c) The cost to shape, smooth, or prepare the site before establishing vegetative cover.

ATCP 50.663(3) (3) Ineligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse any of the following for conservation cover:

ATCP 50.663(3)(a) (a) Critical area plantings.

ATCP 50.663(3)(b) (b) Whole-field conversion.

ATCP 50.663(3)(c) (c) Pasture plantings.

ATCP 50.663(4) (4) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse conservation cover costs unless all of the following conditions are met:

ATCP 50.663(4)(a) (a) The conservation cover practices comply with all of the following that apply:

ATCP 50.663(4)(a)1. 1. NRCS conservation practice standard 327 conservation cover (January, 2013).

ATCP 50.663(4)(a)2. 2. NRCS conservation practice standard 472 access control (January, 2018).

ATCP 50.663(4)(a)3. 3. NRCS conservation practice standard 382 fence (January, 2014).

ATCP 50.663(4)(a)4. 4. NRCS conservation practice standard 315 herbaceous weed treatment (June, 2016).

ATCP 50.663(4)(b) (b) Following establishment of vegetative cover, management of cover complies with all of the following that apply:

ATCP 50.663(4)(b)1. 1. NRCS conservation practice standard 338 prescribed burning (March, 2016).

ATCP 50.663(4)(b)2. 2. NRCS conservation practice standard 314 brush management (April, 2017).

ATCP 50.663(4)(b)3. 3. NRCS conservation practice standard 528 prescribed grazing standard (April, 2017).

ATCP 50.663(4)(b)4. 4. Guidelines specified in ”Pastures for Profit: A Guide to Rotational Grazing,” published by the University of Wisconsin-Extension (2014).

ATCP 50.663(4)(c) (c) The landowner agrees to maintain the vegetative cover for 10 years.

ATCP 50.663 History History: CR 23-024: cr. Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24; correction in (4) (a) 4., (b) 1. to 4. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2024 No. 821.

ATCP 50.668 ATCP 50.668 Conservation crop rotation.

ATCP 50.668(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “conservation crop rotation” means a planned sequence of crops grown on the same ground over a period of time known as the rotation cycle to support one or more of the following purposes:

ATCP 50.668(1)(a) (a) Reduce sheet, rill, and wind erosion.

ATCP 50.668(1)(b) (b) Provide increases to soil health indicators and soil organic matter content.

ATCP 50.668(1)(c) (c) Protect water quality from excess nutrients.

ATCP 50.668(1)(d) (d) Improve efficiency of irrigation water use.

ATCP 50.668(1)(e) (e) Reduce plant pest pressures.

ATCP 50.668(1)(f) (f) Provide or increase forage supply during periods of low forage production or to extend the grazing season.

ATCP 50.668(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse for years where a crop rotation was diversified.

ATCP 50.668(2)(a) (a) Diversification may include any of the following:

ATCP 50.668(2)(a)1. 1. Cover crops.

ATCP 50.668(2)(a)2. 2. Small grains.

ATCP 50.668(2)(a)3. 3. Perennial crops.

ATCP 50.668(2)(a)4. 4. Livestock integration.

ATCP 50.668(2)(a)5. 5. Other innovative practices approved by the department.

ATCP 50.668(3) (3) Ineligible costs. A cost-share grant may not reimburse costs for land in permanent cover or years of a rotation following the establishment of a perennial crop.

ATCP 50.668(4) (4) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse any costs to establish a conservation crop rotation unless all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.668(4)(a) (a) The conservation crop rotation meets NRCS conservation practice standard 328 conservation crop rotation (September, 2015).

ATCP 50.668(4)(b) (b) The conservation crop rotation complies with all of the following that apply:

ATCP 50.668(4)(b)1. 1. NRCS conservation practice standard 340 cover crop (August, 2015).

ATCP 50.668(4)(b)2. 2. NRCS conservation practice standard 590 nutrient management (December, 2015).

ATCP 50.668(4)(b)3. 3. NRCS conservation practice standard 595 pest management conservation system (January, 2022).

ATCP 50.668(4)(b)4. 4. NRCS conservation practice standard 528 prescribed grazing (April, 2017).

ATCP 50.668(4)(b)5. 5. NRCS conservation practice standard 329 residue and tillage management, no till (January, 2018).

ATCP 50.668(4)(b)6. 6. NRCS conservation practice standard 585 stripcropping (June, 2016).

ATCP 50.668(4)(c) (c) The landowner agrees to maintain conservation crop rotation for a minimum of 3 years or the duration of cost share, whichever is longer.

ATCP 50.668 History History: CR 23-024: cr. Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24.

ATCP 50.67 ATCP 50.67 Contour farming.

ATCP 50.67(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “contour farming” means plowing, preparing, planting, and cultivating sloping land on the contour and along established grades of terraces or diversions.

ATCP 50.67(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse costs to establish a contour farming system, including necessary costs to remove obstacles.

ATCP 50.67(3) (3) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse contour farming costs unless the contour farming system meets the following applicable standards:

ATCP 50.67(3)(a) (a) NRCS conservation practice standard 330 contour farming (March, 2016).

ATCP 50.67(3)(b) (b) NRCS conservation practice standard 500 obstruction removal (June, 2021).

ATCP 50.67(3)(c) (c) NRCS conservation practice standard 420 wildlife habitat planting (June, 2020), if habitat management is used to mitigate the loss of habitat resulting from the installation of contour farming.

ATCP 50.67(3)(d) (d) NRCS conservation practice standard 332 contour buffer strips (July, 2016).

ATCP 50.67(3)(e) (e) The landowner agrees to maintain the contour farming system for each cropping season for which cost-sharing is provided.

ATCP 50.67 History History: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 13-016: am. (3) (a) to (c) Register February 2014 No. 698, eff. 5-1-14; CR 16-083: am. (3) (a), (b) Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18; CR 23-024: am. (3) (a) to (c), cr. (3) (d), (e) Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24; correction in (3) (a) to (c) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2024 No. 821.

ATCP 50.68 ATCP 50.68 Cover crop.

ATCP 50.68(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “cover crop” means close-growing grasses, legumes, or small grain grown for any of the following purposes:

ATCP 50.68(1)(a) (a) To control soil erosion.

ATCP 50.68(1)(b) (b) To improve soil health.

ATCP 50.68(1)(c) (c) To improve water quality.

ATCP 50.68(1)(d) (d) To manage excess nutrients in the soil.

ATCP 50.68(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse costs to establish cover crops on an agricultural field.

ATCP 50.68(4) (4) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse any costs to establish a cover crop unless all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.68(4)(a) (a) The cover meets NRCS conservation practice standard 340 cover crop (August, 2015).

ATCP 50.68(4)(b) (b) The landowner agrees to maintain the cover and green manure crop in each cropping season for which cost-sharing is provided.

ATCP 50.68 History History: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075: am. (title) and (4) (a) Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016: am. (4) (a) Register February 2014 No. 698, eff. 5-1-14; CR 14-047: am. (4) (a) Register May 2015 No. 713, eff. 6-1-15; CR 16-012: am. (4) (a) Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16; CR 23-024: am. (1) (intro.), (a) to (c), cr. (1) (d), am. (2), (4) (intro.), (a) Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24.

ATCP 50.69 ATCP 50.69 Critical area stabilization.

ATCP 50.69(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “critical area stabilization” means planting suitable vegetation on erodible areas such as steep slopes and gullies, so as to reduce soil erosion or pollution from agricultural nonpoint sources. “Critical area stabilization” may also include treating areas that drain into bedrock crevices, openings, or sinkholes.

ATCP 50.69(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse the following critical area stabilization costs:

ATCP 50.69(2)(a) (a) Costs to purchase and install permanent fencing around the critical area.

ATCP 50.69(2)(b) (b) Costs to establish permanent vegetative cover, or to provide temporary cover until permanent cover is established. This may include costs for mulch, fertilizer, and other necessary materials.

ATCP 50.69(2)(c) (c) Preparatory shaping and smoothing operations.

ATCP 50.69(3) (3) Ineligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse for the costs of planting trees intended for commercial harvest.

ATCP 50.69(4) (4) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse critical area stabilization costs unless all of the following conditions are met: