October 7, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Krug, Ballweg, Edming,
Thiesfeldt, Horlacher, Tusler, Kitchens, Skowronski and Kurtz,
cosponsored by Senators Jacque and Stroebel. Referred to Committee on
Agriculture.

AB511,1,5 1An Act to renumber 94.64 (1) (a); to amend 94.64 (3m) (a) (intro.), 94.64 (3m)
2(a) 1., 94.64 (9) (c), 94.65 (4) (a) (intro.) and 94.65 (4) (b); and to create 94.64
3(1) (ag), 94.64 (1) (u), 94.64 (2) (f), 94.64 (3m) (a) 3., 94.65 (1) (bm), 94.65 (1) (fm)
4and 94.65 (5m) of the statutes; relating to: the distribution and labeling of
5fertilizers and soil or plant additives produced from manure.

This bill makes the following changes to requirements that apply to fertilizers
and soil or plant additives that are produced from converting manure into compost
or vermicompost and their derivatives:

1. The bill allows a person to distribute a fertilizer that is produced from
converting manure into compost or vermicompost and their derivatives and that has
a combined weight of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that is less than 24
percent of the total weight of the fertilizer. Current law requires a fertilizer
distributed in this state to be guaranteed to contain a combined weight of nitrogen,
phosphorous, and potassium that is at least 24 percent of the total weight of the
fertilizer, unless either 1) the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer
Protection promulgates a rule exempting the fertilizer; or 2) DATCP grants a permit
authorizing the distribution of the fertilizer as a nonagricultural or special-use
fertilizer.

2. The bill also exempts a fertilizer that is produced from converting manure
into compost from being required to contain a minimum amount of certain plant

nutrients. Additionally, under the bill, a label, invoice, or statement accompanying
fertilizer produced from converting manure into compost is allowed to represent the
amount of plant nutrients or other beneficial substances contained in the fertilizer
if the truthfulness of the representation is substantiated by a typical analysis or
other scientifically validated analytical method.

3. Under the bill, DATCP may not require a controlled experimental field test
to substantiate the efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive produced from
converting manure into compost. Under current law, DATCP may require the
efficacy and usefulness of a soil or plant additive to be substantiated by controlled
experimental studies using the soil or plant additive.

4. The bill allows the truthfulness of a statement on a permit application or
label of a soil or plant additive produced from converting manure into compost to be
substantiated by a typical analysis. Current law requires the label of a soil or plant
additive to make a guarantee about the minimum amount of the substances that it
contains.