Chapter ATCP 50

ATCP 50.79 History History: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075: r. and recr. (3) (a) Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016: am. (2) (intro.), (3) (a) 1., (b) Register February 2014 No. 698, eff. 5-1-14; CR 23-024: am. (3) (a) 1., cr. (3) (a) 1m. Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24.

ATCP 50.80 ATCP 50.80 Prescribed grazing.

ATCP 50.80(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “prescribed grazing” or “rotational grazing” means a grazing system which divides pastures into multiple cells, each of which is grazed intensively for a short period and then protected from grazing until its vegetative cover is restored.

ATCP 50.80(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse the cost of replacing animal lots or pastures, establishing a prescribed grazing system on croplands, or improving an existing prescribed grazing system that contributes sediments, nutrients, or pesticides to a water resource. This may include any of the following costs:

ATCP 50.80(2)(a) (a) The cost to establish or repair livestock access lanes and stream crossings to prevent instability and erosion.

ATCP 50.80(2)(b) (b) The cost to establish permanent boundary and main paddock fences. This may include perimeter fencing, lane fencing, portable fencing, and gates.

ATCP 50.80(2)(c) (c) The cost to establish, or enhance through interseeding or weed management, good seeding stands for pasture and hayland planting.

ATCP 50.80(2)(d) (d) The cost to establish a livestock watering facility. This may include pipeline and pasture watering systems, wells, spring developments, winter watering facilities such as geothermal or heated jug, heavy use area protection, and portable watering systems such as pumps, pipes, and tanks.

ATCP 50.80(2)(e) (e) The costs for practices that would remediate streambank erosion and streambank habitat degradation.

ATCP 50.80(2)(f) (f) The costs for practices that would exclude livestock from woodlands, sensitive wildlife habitat, and recreational lands.

ATCP 50.80(2)(g) (g) The costs for development of a prescribed grazing plan.

ATCP 50.80(3) (3) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse prescribed grazing costs unless all of the following conditions are met:

ATCP 50.80(3)(a) (a) The prescribed grazing practices comply with all of the following that apply:

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)1. 1. NRCS conservation practice standard 342 critical area planting (January, 2018).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)2. 2. NRCS conservation practice standard 512 forage and biomass planting (January, 2013).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)3. 3. NRCS conservation practice standard 472 access control (January, 2018).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)4. 4. NRCS conservation practice standard 580 streambank and shoreline protection (September, 2021).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)5. 5. NRCS conservation practice standard 561 heavy use area protection (November, 2022).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)6. 6. NRCS conservation practice standard 528 prescribed grazing (April, 2017).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)7. 7. Guidelines specified in “Pastures for Profit: A Guide to Rotational Grazing,” published by the University of Wisconsin-Extension (2014).

ATCP 50.80 Note Note: Copies of “Pastures for Profit: A Guide to Rotational Grazing” are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau. Copies may be obtained from the University of Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX Pub. No. A3529).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)8. 8. NRCS conservation practice standard 575 trails and walkways (August, 2021).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)9. 9. Standards for livestock watering facilities specified under s. ATCP 50.76.

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)10. 10. NRCS conservation practice standard 315 herbaceous weed treatment (June, 2016).

ATCP 50.80(3)(a)11. 11. NRCS conservation practice standard 314 brush management (April, 2017).

ATCP 50.80(3)(b) (b) The landowner agrees to maintain the prescribed grazing system for 10 years unless farming operations on the affected land are discontinued.

ATCP 50.80 History History: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075: am. (3) (a) 1. to 8. Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016: am. (3) (a) 1. to 6., 8. Register February 2014 No. 698, eff. 5-1-14; CR 14-047: am. (3) (a) 4., 5., 8. Register May 2015 No. 713, eff. 6-1-15; CR 16-012: am. (3) (a) 5., 8. Register August 2016 No. 728, eff. 9-1-16; CR 16-083: am. (3) (a) 1., 3., 7., 8. Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18; CR 23-024: am. (2) (intro.), (c), (d), cr. (2) (g), am. (3) (a) 1. to 6., 8., cr. (3) (a) 10., 11. Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24; correction in (3) (a) 10., 11. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2024 No. 821.

ATCP 50.81 ATCP 50.81 Relocating or abandoning animal feeding operations.

ATCP 50.81(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

ATCP 50.81(1)(a) (a) “Abandonment” means discontinuing an animal feeding operation in order to prevent surface water or groundwater pollution from that animal feeding operation.

ATCP 50.81(1)(b) (b) “Animal feeding operation” means a feedlot or facility, other than a pasture, where animals are fed, confined, maintained, or stabled for 45 days or more in any 12-month period. Two or more animal feeding operations under common ownership or common management constitute a single animal feeding operation if any of the following apply:

ATCP 50.81(1)(b)1. 1. The operations are adjacent.

ATCP 50.81(1)(b)2. 2. The operations use common plans, acreage, or systems to landspread manure or other wastes.

ATCP 50.81(1)(b)3. 3. Manure, barnyard runoff, or other wastes are commingled in a common storage facility prior to landspreading.

ATCP 50.81(1)(c) (c) “Relocation” means discontinuing an animal feeding operation at one site and commencing that operation at a suitable alternate site in order to minimize the amount of surface water or groundwater pollution from that animal feeding operation.

ATCP 50.81(2) (2) Cost-share eligibility. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse costs incurred for the permanent relocation or abandonment of an animal feeding operation if all of the following conditions are met:

ATCP 50.81(2)(a) (a) The department or the county land conservation committee finds that relocation or abandonment is the most practical and cost-effective way to achieve compliance with state or local regulations.

ATCP 50.81(2)(b) (b) The department approves the relocation or abandonment plan.

ATCP 50.81(2)(c) (c) The landowner agrees, in a covenant that runs with the land, that no person may reestablish an animal feeding operation at that site unless the department determines that the reestablished operation complies with s. ATCP 50.04. The department may waive this requirement if the department finds that the covenant is unnecessary.

ATCP 50.81(2)(d) (d) The covenant under par. (c) is recorded in the office of the register of deeds for each county in which the property is located.

ATCP 50.81(3) (3) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse any of the following costs to relocate or abandon an animal feeding operation:

ATCP 50.81(3)(a) (a) Costs to install manure management systems and other conservation practices under this subchapter at a new site, as authorized under this chapter.

ATCP 50.81(3)(b) (b) Costs to abandon and rehabilitate the current site, including costs for any of the following:

ATCP 50.81(3)(b)1. 1. Removing concrete paving, fencing, bunks, livestock housing structures, livestock feeding structures, and other obstructions.

ATCP 50.81(3)(b)2. 2. Grading and establishing vegetation on the site.

ATCP 50.81(3)(b)3. 3. Excluding livestock from the site.

ATCP 50.81(3)(b)4. 4. Abandoning wells on the site.

ATCP 50.81(3)(c) (c) Costs to move buildings and other structures.

ATCP 50.81(3)(d) (d) Costs to transport animals to a site in this state that is not on the same farm, up to a maximum of $5,000.

ATCP 50.81(3)(e) (e) Costs for livestock buildings and associated facilities needed to maintain the transferred livestock at the new site if all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.81(3)(e)1. 1. The department determines that the relocation is necessary to comply with s. ATCP 50.04 and is cost-effective.

ATCP 50.81(3)(e)2. 2. The cost-share grant does not exceed the appraised value of the buildings and associated facilities at the current site, or 70% of the costs of the replacement buildings and associated facilities, whichever is less.

ATCP 50.81(3)(e)3. 3. The relocation will not cause a violation of s. ATCP 50.04.

ATCP 50.81 Note Note: Cost-share grants under this section are subject to the limitations specified in s. ATCP 50.42.

ATCP 50.81(4) (4) Ineligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse any costs to reestablish an animal feeding operation that has been abandoned under this section.

ATCP 50.81(5) (5) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant may not reimburse the cost of relocating or abandoning an animal feeding operation unless all of the following apply:

ATCP 50.81(5)(a) (a) The relocation or abandonment complies with the NRCS conservation practice standards for the conservation practices in this subchapter.

ATCP 50.81(5)(b) (b) The landowner agrees to maintain the relocated operation, if any, for 10 years unless farming operations on the affected land are discontinued.

ATCP 50.81 History History: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 23-024: am. (5) (a) Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24.

ATCP 50.82 ATCP 50.82 Residue management.

ATCP 50.82(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “residue management” means any of the following:

ATCP 50.82(1)(a) (a) Preparing land surfaces for the planting and growing of crop plants using methods that result in a rough land surface which is covered in varying degrees by vegetative residues of a previous crop, and which provides a significant degree of resistance to soil erosion by raindrop impact, surface water runoff, or wind.

ATCP 50.82(1)(b) (b) Planting crop seeds in a narrow slot or a narrow strip of tilled soil, in order to maintain residue cover and avoid disturbing the entire soil surface.

ATCP 50.82(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may reimburse costs for any of the following residue management practices:

ATCP 50.82(2)(am) (am) No-till practices.

ATCP 50.82(2)(bm) (bm) Strip-till practices.

ATCP 50.82(2)(cm) (cm) Other, similar practices.

ATCP 50.82(4) (4) Design, construction, and maintenance. A cost-share grant under s. ATCP 50.40 may not reimburse residue management costs unless all of the following conditions are met:

ATCP 50.82(4)(a) (a) Land subject to residue management is protected from erosion from the time of harvest until after the next planting. Protection may be provided by a cover crop residue, temporary cover, or another approved practice. The residue, temporary cover, or other approved practice shall cover at least 30% of the land.

ATCP 50.82(4)(b) (b) On lands with slopes greater than 6%, all tillage and planting operations are performed as nearly as practicable on the contour or parallel to terraces.

ATCP 50.82(4)(c) (c) The residue management complies with NRCS conservation practice standard 329 residue and tillage management-no till (January, 2018).

ATCP 50.82(4)(d) (d) The landowner agrees to maintain the residue management practice for each cropping season for which cost-sharing is provided.

ATCP 50.82 History History: CR 01-090: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02; CR 08-075: am. (4) (c) 1. to 3. Register April 2009 No. 640, eff. 5-1-09; CR 13-016: am. (4) (c) 1. to 3., cr. (4) (c) 4. Register February 2014 No. 698, eff. 5-1-14; CR 16-083: am. (4) (c) 1., 2. Register January 2018 No. 745, eff. 2-1-18; CR 23-024: cr. (2) (a) 1m., r. (2) (a) 2. to 4., (b), (3), consol. (4) (c) (intro.) and 1. and am., r. (4) (c) 2. to 4. Register May 2024 No. 821, eff. 6-1-24; renum. (2) (a) (intro.), 1., 1m., 5. to (2) (am) to (cm) under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 1., Stats., Register May 2024 No. 821.

ATCP 50.83 ATCP 50.83 Riparian buffers.

ATCP 50.83(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “riparian buffer” means an area in which vegetation is enhanced or established to reduce or eliminate the movement of sediment, nutrients, and other nonpoint source pollutants to an adjacent surface water resource or groundwater recharge area, to protect the banks of streams and lakes from erosion, and to protect fish habitat.

ATCP 50.83(2) (2) Eligible costs. A cost-share grant may reimburse any of the following costs:

ATCP 50.83(2)(a) (a) Permanent fencing to protect a riparian buffer.

ATCP 50.83(2)(b) (b) Costs to establish or enhance permanent vegetative cover in a riparian buffer, or to provide temporary cover until permanent cover is established. This may include costs for mulch, fertilizer, seed, seedling trees, and other necessary materials.

ATCP 50.83(2)(c) (c) Costs to shape, smooth, or prepare the riparian buffer before establishing a permanent vegetative cover.

ATCP 50.83(2)(d) (d) Costs for land removed from agricultural production to install a riparian buffer.

ATCP 50.83(3) (3) Design, construction, and maintenance standards. A cost-share grant may not reimburse riparian buffer costs unless all of the following conditions are met:

ATCP 50.83(3)(a) (a) The riparian buffer system complies with all of the following that apply:

ATCP 50.83(3)(a)1. 1. NRCS conservation practice standard 342 critical area planting (January, 2018).

ATCP 50.83(3)(a)2. 2. NRCS conservation practice standard 382 fence (January, 2014).

ATCP 50.83(3)(a)3. 3. NRCS conservation practice standard 386 field border (January, 2017).

ATCP 50.83(3)(a)4. 4. NRCS conservation practice standard 393 filter strip (January, 2017).

ATCP 50.83(3)(a)5. 5. NRCS conservation practice standard 472 access control (January, 2018).

ATCP 50.83(3)(a)6. 6. NRCS conservation practice standard 484 mulching (June, 2016).

ATCP 50.83(3)(a)7. 7. NRCS conservation practice standard 391 riparian forest buffer (January, 2013).