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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 ASSEMBLY BILL 743
December 6, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives C. ANDERSON, CONSIDINE,
JACOBSON, J. ANDERSON, BARE, BEHNKE, CLANCY, DRAKE, EMERSON, JOERS,
OHNSTAD, PALMERI, RATCLIFF, SHANKLAND, SHELTON, SUBECK and HAYWOOD,
cosponsored by Senators PFAFF, SMITH, SPREITZER, HESSELBEIN, ROYS and
TAYLOR. Referred to Committee on Agriculture.
***AUTHORS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***
AN ACT to create 20.115 (4) (av) and 93.65 of the statutes; relating to:
value-added agricultural practices, granting rule-making authority, and
making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
The bill allows the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
to provide education and technical assistance related to producing value-added
agricultural products. Under the bill, DATCP may provide education and assistance
related to organic farming practices; collaborate with organic producers, industry
participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming; and stimulate
interest and investment in organic production. The bill also allows DATCP to
provide grants to organic producers, industry participants, and local organizations,
which may be used to provide education and technical assistance related to organic
farming, to help create organic farming plans, and to assist farmers in transitioning
to organic farming. The bill also authorizes DATCP to provide grants to entities to
provide education and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing.
DATCP is also authorized under the bill to help farmers market value-added
agricultural products.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
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SECTION 1 ASSEMBLY BILL 743
SECTION 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert
the following amounts for the purposes indicated:
2023-24 2024-25
20.115 Agriculture, trade and consumer
protection, department of
(4) AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANCE
(av) Value-added agricultural prac
tices GPR B 400,000 400,000
SECTION 2. 20.115 (4) (av) of the statutes is created to read:
20.115 (4) (av) Value-added agricultural practices. Biennially, the amounts in
the schedule for the value-added agricultural practices program under s. 93.65.
SECTION 3. 93.65 of the statutes is created to read:
93.65 Value-added agricultural practices. (1) DEFINITION. In this section,
“value-added agricultural product” means a farm product that satisfies any of the
following:
(a) The product has undergone a change in physical state.
(b) The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.
(c) The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.
(d) The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.
(e) The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.
(2) VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS. The department may provide education and
technical assistance related to promoting and implementing agricultural practices
that produce value-added agricultural products, including by doing all of the
following:
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SECTION 3
ASSEMBLY BILL 743
(a) Assistance for organic farming practices. Providing education and technical
assistance related to organic farming practices, including business and market
development assistance; collaborating with organic producers, industry
participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming; and
stimulating interest and investment in organic production. The department may
award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (av) to organic producers,
industry participants, and local organizations that coordinate organic farming. The
department may award a grant to an organic producer, industry participant, or local
organization under this paragraph for any of the following purposes:
1. Providing education and technical assistance related to implementing
organic farming practices.
2. Helping to create organic farming plans.
3. Assisting farmers to transition to organic farming.
(b) Grazing grants. Awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115
(4) (av) to appropriate entities to provide education and training to farmers about
best practices related to grazing.
(c) Promotion. Helping producers market value-added agricultural products,
including products produced through the use of a practice described in s. 93.67.
(3) RULES. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.
(END)
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