AB50,824,17 (d) The department shall consult with interested persons to establish grant priorities for each fiscal year.

AB50,824,20 (3) Reports. At least annually, the department shall report to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) and to the secretary on the needs and opportunities for farm to fork programs.

AB50,824,21 (4) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB50,1581 Section 1581. 93.67 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,825,2 93.67 Sandhill crane damage reimbursement program. (1) In this section:

AB50,825,6 (a) “Eligible applicant” means a person that plants corn on land that is operated as part of a farm that produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenues during the taxable year preceding the year in which the person applies for reimbursement under this section.

AB50,825,8 (b) “Farm” means all land under common ownership that is primarily devoted to agricultural use.

AB50,825,10 (c) “Seed coating” means a nonlethal treatment registered for use on corn seed to discourage sandhill cranes from consuming the seed.

AB50,825,13 (2) (a) The department shall administer a program to provide reimbursements to eligible applicants for the purchase of seed coating that is applied as a seed treatment.

AB50,825,16 (b) A reimbursement under this section shall cover not more than 50 percent of the actual cost of the purchase of seed coating that is applied as a seed treatment and may not exceed $6,250 per eligible applicant per planting season.

AB50,825,21 (c) From March 1 to June 15 of each year, eligible applicants may apply to the department for reimbursement for seed coating purchased no earlier than November 1 of the prior year. Eligible applicants shall provide to the department proof of purchase and an application on a form provided by the department to be eligible to receive a reimbursement under this section.

AB50,825,23 (d) From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall prioritize reimbursement payments under par. (c) to all of the following:

AB50,826,2 1. Eligible applicants that received a federal depredation permit for sandhill crane in the previous year.

AB50,826,5 2. Eligible applicants that received reimbursement under this section in any of the prior 3 years or that can provide documentation of purchase of seed coating in any of the prior 3 years.

AB50,826,8 3. Eligible applicants planting corn on land vulnerable to sandhill crane depredation as determined by the department in consultation with the department of natural resources and applicable conservation organizations.

AB50,826,14 (e) After reimbursing all eligible applicants under par. (d), from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (ac), the department shall make reimbursement payments to other eligible applicants that have experienced or are likely to experience seed or crop damage from sandhill cranes. The department shall make payments under this paragraph to eligible applicants in the order in which applications are received by the department.

AB50,826,17 (f) The department shall make all reimbursement payments under pars. (d) and (e) no later than September 15 of the year in which applications are made under par. (c).

AB50,826,19 (g) A farm is eligible to receive only one reimbursement payment per year under this section.

AB50,827,2 (3) The department shall compile an annual report detailing the number of reimbursements requested, the total dollar amount requested as reimbursement, the number of reimbursements issued, and the total dollar amount disbursed as reimbursement under this section. The department shall submit the report to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided in s. 13.172 (3) no later than December 31 each year.

AB50,827,6 (4) The department may promulgate rules to establish prioritization of payments under sub. (2) (d) and (e), including identifying applicable conservation organizations under sub. (2) (d) 3. and determining whether eligible applicants have experienced or are likely to experience seed or crop damage under sub. (2) (e).

AB50,1582 Section 1582. 93.73 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB50,827,14 93.73 (2) (b) The department, after consultation with the council under sub. (13), shall solicit applications under sub. (3) at least annually. The department shall issue each solicitation in writing and shall publish a notice announcing the solicitation. In soliciting applications, the department may specify the total amount of funds available, application deadlines, application requirements and procedures, preliminary criteria for evaluating applications, and other relevant information.

AB50,1583 Section 1583. 93.74 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,827,18 93.74 Planning grants for regional biodigesters. (1) Grant program. From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (u), the department shall provide planning grants for establishing regional biodigesters.

AB50,827,20 (2) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.

AB50,1584 Section 1584. 93.75 of the statutes is created to read:

AB50,827,24 93.75 Biodigester operator certification grants. (1) Grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (da), the department shall award grants to individuals seeking biodigester operator certification.

AB50,828,3 (2) Rules. The department may promulgate rules establishing the application process and grant-awarding criteria for the biodigester operator certification grants.

AB50,1585 Section 1585. 94.55 (2t) of the statutes is repealed.