Clearinghouse Rule: 23-024
Final Rule Draft
January 3, 2024
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND CONSUMER PROTECTION’S PROPOSED ORDER TO ADOPT PERMANENT RULES
PROPOSED ORDER
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection proposes an order to repeal ATCP 50.01 (2) (m) (Note), 50.01 (24) (Note) and (25) (Note), 50.01 (28) (a) and (28) (b), 50.01 (31), 50.01 (37) (Note), Subch. II (Note), 50.04 (3) (c) (Note), 50.04 (3) (h) and (Note), 50.04 (4) (b) 2. d. (Note), 50.06 (2) (Note), 50.08 (1) (a) (Note), (b) (Note), and (2) and (Note), 50.08 (3) (c), (d) (Note), (4) (c) (Note), and (5) (a) (Note), 50.10 (1) (b) (Note), and (2) (a), 50.12 (2) (f), 50.12 (2) (i) (Note), 50.12 (3) (a) (Note), 50.12 (4) (b) (Note) and (5) (Note), 50.16 (1) (a) (Note), 50.16 (3) (c) (Note), 50.16 (3) (d) (Note), (4) (a) (Note), (5) (c) (2) (Note), (5) (d) (Note), (6) (b) 3. (Note), and (6) (d) (Note), 50.18 (1) (b) (Note) and (1) (c), 50.20 (Note), 50.24 (1) (Note), 50.26 (1) (Note), (2) (a) (Note), (2) (b) (Note), (3) (b) (Note), and (4) (Note), 50.28 (1) (c) 3. (Note), (1) (d) 3. (Note), (1) (c) (Note), (2) (a) (Note), and (2) (b) 1. (Note), 50.28 (2) (b) 2. (Note), 50.28 (3) (b) (Note) and (5) (a) 1. b. (Note), 50.28 (5) (a) 5. (Note), 50.30 (2) (a), (2) (a) (Note), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (Note), 50.32 (1) (Note), (2) (c) (Note), (3) (a) (Note), and (5) (a) (Note), 50.32 (7) (a) (Note), (7) (c) and (7) (d) (Note), 50.32 (10) (Note) and (11) (b) (Note), 50.34 (1) (d) (Note) and (2) (b) (Note), 50.34 (3) (a) (Note) and (3) (c) (Note), 50.34 (4) (a) 2. (Note) and (4) (b) (Note), 50.32 (5m) (d) (Note), 50.34 (6) (a) 3. (Note) and 4. (Note), 50.36 (1) (Note) and (2) (Note), 50.36 (3) (Note), 50.40 (1) (b) and (Note), 50.40 (2) (d) (Note), (3) (Note), (9) (j) (Note), (9) (L) (Note), and (9) (o) (Note), 50.40 (11) (b) (4) and (Note), 50.40 (14) (d) (Note), 50.40 (16) (a) (Note), (b) (Note), and (c) (Note), 50.40 (17) (Note), (18) (Note), and (19), 50.42 (1) (a) (Note), (1) (dr) (Note), and (1) (e) (Note), 50.42 (5) (Note), 50.46 (1) (a) 1. (Note) and (1) (b) (Note), 50.46 (2m) (b) (Note) and (3) (a) (Note), 50.46 (5) (a) 3. (Note) and (5) (b), 50.48 (4) (Note), 50.50 (1) (Note), 50.50 (7) (b) (Note), 50.50 (8) (c) (Note), 50.52 (1) (f) (Note) and (g) (Note), 50.56 (2) (c) (Note), (3) (b) 2. (Note 1), and (3) (b) 3. (Note), 50.56 (4) (c) (Note), 50.56 (6) (a) and (b), 50.60 (2) (b) (Note), 50.61 (2) (Note), 50.61 (4) (c) (Note), 50.62 (3) (d) (Note), 50.62 (f) (Note), 50.64 (1) (v) (Note), 50.64 (5) (c) (Note), 50.66 (3) (a) (Note), 50.68 (3), 50.705 (5) (b) (Note), 50.77 (4) (a) 1. And (Note), 50.80 (1) (Note), 50.82 (2) (a) 2., 3., and 4., (b), and (3), 50.82 (4) (c) 2., 3., and 4., 50.83 (3) (a) 8., 50.84 (1) (b) and (4) (a) and (b), 50.88 (2) (a) (Note) and (c) (Note), 50.93 (4) (a) 2.; ; to renumber and amend; 50.84 (1) (a) to amend ATCP 50.01 (2), ATCP 50.01 (2m), 50.01 (4), 50.01 (27) and (Note) and (28), 50.01 (36), 50.04 (1), (2), (2) (Note), and (3) (a), 50.04 (3) (dm) 1. and (Note), (3) (e) and (Note), (3) (f) 1. and (Note)3 (f) 4. and (Note), and (3) (i), 50.06 (1) (a) and (2), 50.08 (3) (b), 50.10 (2), 50.12 (2) (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (i), and (3) (a), 50.16 (3) (d), 50.26 (1), 50.28 (2) (b) 2., 50.28 (5) (a) 2., 50.30 (2), 50.32 (7) (a), 50.32 (6), 50.32 (8) (a), (c) 1., and (d), 50.34 (1), 50.34 (3) (intro.), (3) (a), (3) (c), (3) (d), and (4) (a) 1. And 2., 50.34 (5m) (intro), (5m) (b), (5m) (c) and (5m) (d), 50.34 (6) (b), (7) (a) 1., and (7) (b), 50.36 (3), Subchapter V (title), 50.40 (1), 50.40 (1) (a) (Note),50.40 (10) (b), 50.40 (17), 50.42 (title), (1), and (a), 50.42 (1) (b) and (1) (dg), 50.46 (1) (d) and (2), 50.46 (5) (a) 2., 50.46 (7) (c), 4(8) (a), (8) (c), (9) (c) 1., and (11) (b), 50.48 (1) (a), (2) (a) 4., (2) (c) (Note), (4) and (6), 50.50 (2) (d) 5. (Note), 50.52 (2) (c), 50.54 (1) (Note), 50.56 (3) (b) 4. (intro.) a., b., and c., (4) (a) and 4 (a) (Note), 50.56 (6), Subchapter VIII (title) and (Note), 50.61 (title) and (1), 50.61 (3) (intro,), 3 (a), and (3) (b), 50.62 (3) (d), 50.62 (5) (e) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7. and 8, and (em) 1., 50.63 (5), 50.64 (1) (e), 50.64 (5) (a), 50.65 (3) (a) 1. and 2. and (Note), 50.66 (3) (a) 1., 2., and 3., 50.67 (3) (a), (b), and (c), 50.68 (1) (a), (1) (b), and (1) (c), 50.68 (2), 50.68 (4), 50.69 (4) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., and 7., 50.70 (1) and (4) (b) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., and 9., 50.705 (3) (d) and (5) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., and 7., and (5) (a) 8. (Note), 50.71 (3) (b) 1., 2., 3., and 4., 50.72 (3) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., and 7., 50.73 (3) (d) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., 8., 9., 10., 11., and 12., 50.75 (4) (a) 1. and 2., 50.76 (5) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., 6., and 7., 50.77 (4) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., and 7., 50.78 (3) (a), 50.79 (3) (a) 1., 50.80 (2) (intro.) and (2) (c) and (d), 50.80 (3) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., and 8., 50.81 (5) (a), 50.82 (4) (c), 50.83 (3) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., and 7., 50.83 (3) (a) 9., 50.84 (1) (a), 50.84 (4) and (5) (a) and (e), 50.85 (4) (a) 1. and 2., 50.86 (4) (b) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., and 7., 50.87 (4) (a) 1., 2., and 3., 50.88 (2) (a), 50.88 (3) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., and 5., 50.885 (1) and (4) (a) 1., 2., 3., and 4., 50.89 (3) (b) 1. and 2. and (c), 50.90 (2), (3) (a) and (b) 1. and 2., 50.91 (3) (b) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., and 8., 50.92 (3) (b) 1. and 2., 50.93 (1) and (4) (a), 50.94 (1) and (3) (a) 1., 2., 3., 4., and 5., 50.95 (3) (a) 1., 2., 3., and 4., 50.96 (3) (b) 1., 2., 3., 4., 5., 6., 7., and 8., 50.97 (3) (a), 50.98 (1), 50.98 (3) (a) and (3) (a) 1.; repeal and recreate 50.08 (5) (b), 50.42 (2); and to create ATCP 50.01 (4m), 50.01 (10m), (10r), and 13(m), 50.01 (29s), 50.01 (32m) and (34m), 50.04 (4) (c), 50.04 (5), 50.16 (1) (e) and (2) (d), 50.28 (2) (b) 3., 50.32 (5) (am), 50.34 (5m) (e), 50.36 (3) (b) and (3) (c), 50.38, 50.40 (11) (b) (5), 50.40 (14) (e), 50.41, 50.46 (5) (c), 50.48 (6) (a), (b), (c), and (Note), 50.50 (7) (c), 50.618, 50.62 (5) (f) 1. and 2., 50.64 (5) (d), 50.65 (3) (a) 3., 50.66 (3) (a) 4., 50.663, 50.668, 50.67 (3) (d) and (e), 50.68 (1) (d), 50.733, 50.738, 50.74, 50.785, 50.79 (3) (a) 1m., 50.80 (2) (g), 50.80 (3) (a) 10. and 11., 50.82 (2) (a) 1m., 50.84 (1) (a), 50.86 (4) (b) 9., 50.88 (1) (cg), (cr), and (em), 50.88 (3) (a) 6., 7., 8., and 9., 50.882, 50.925, 50.98 (2) (e), 50.98 (3) (a) 2.; relating to soil and water resource management and affecting small businesses.
Analysis Prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
This rule modifies ch. ATCP 50, Wis. Admin. Code, related to Soil and Water Resource Management Program. The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection (department) administers a variety of programs under ch. 92, Stats. Explanation of Agency Authority
Chapter 92, Stats., establishes the framework for the department to operate a statewide program that includes implementation of farm conservation practices, approval of county land and water resource management plans, administration of soil and water resource management grants, oversight of manure storage and other local regulations covering livestock operations, provision of training and engineering practitioner certification, and standards for cost-shared practices. The Wisconsin department of natural resources (DNR) promulgated the Silurian bedrock agricultural performance standards in s. NR 151.075, Wis. Admin. Code, as authorized under s. 281.16 (3), Stats. in 2018. Under state law, DNR is given authority to establish the agricultural performance standards and prohibitions necessary to limit nonpoint sources of pollution. The department, in turn, is expressly charged with prescribing conservation practices to implement the performance standards and prohibitions established by DNR, s. 281.16 (3), Stats. Related Statutes and Rules
Chapter 92, Stats., establishes the framework for the department to operate a statewide soil and water resource management program. This rule also implements the soil and water conservation requirements in subch. V of ch. 91, Stats. This rule is related to s. 281.16, Stats., and ch. NR 151. Plain Language Analysis
Background
The existing provisions in ch. ATCP 50 establish farm conservation practices to meet agricultural performance standards established in ch. NR 151. The rule identifies the conservation practice standards available to implement farm conservation practices. The rule describes the requirements for county soil and water management programs and lays out eligibility and requirements for grants to support the county and provide financial assistance for landowners. The rule describes local regulations a county may adopt and defines the role of the department where applicable. The rule sets standards for certification and qualifications for soil and water professionals and establishes a role for the department in training these professionals. The rule creates general standards for conservation practices for which financial assistance is available and a process to develop or revise the conservation practice standards or technical standards under this rule. Rule Content
General
This rule does all the following:
Makes language updates and changes, including corrections to outdated provisions.
Updates and adds definitions to clarify the meaning of important terms.
Updates provisions related to soil and water conservation on farms.
Updates requirements for administration of the soil and water resource management grant program.
Updates and clarifies the process for counties to receive grants from the department.
Adds options for providing financial assistance to landowners.
Updates and adds maximum rates of financial assistance for some cropping practices.
Clarifies and updates requirements and eligibility related to engineering certification and nutrient management planning.
Adds a process for development of technical standards.
Updates conservation practices and adds new conservation practices. Language updates
The proposed rule makes minor clarifying and corrective changes to the rule as well as typical, cosmetic changes that occur during rulemaking. These changes include updating weblinks and references, removal of gendered language and updates to reflect current language usage.
The rule removes most of the notes found throughout all subchapters of the rule. Where appropriate, the content of the note is incorporated into the rule.
Definitions and General Provisions
This rule now includes definitions for the following:
Land conservation committeeThe following existing definitions are revised for clarity and, where appropriate, to incorporate existing notes into the definition.
Nutrient management planThe definition of RUSLE 2 equation was removed.
Silurian Bedrock Agricultural Performance Standard and DATCP 01 Verification of Depth to Bedrock technical standard
In 2018, the DNR promulgated a targeted performance standard related to Silurian bedrock in ch. NR 151.075, designed to minimize the risk for pathogen delivery to groundwater. The performance standard applies within parts of 16 counties in the Silurian bedrock area. The performance standard sets forth manure spreading rates and practices for mechanical manure application that vary according to the soil depth and texture. The most restrictive practices apply to those limited areas of the highest risk for pathogen delivery. Less restrictive requirements apply in areas with 5 to 20 feet to bedrock. The department is responsible for developing and disseminating technical standards to implement the agricultural performance standards and prohibitions. This rule adds Silurian bedrock as a farm conservation practice and describes the requirements farmers and landowners must meet to implement the performance standard. This rule adds DATCP 01 Verification of Depth to Bedrock Technical Standard as conservation practice. The Verification of Depth to Bedrock Technical Standard is a voluntary tool farmers and landowners can use to verify the depth to bedrock in fields prior to mechanical application of manure. This rule also allows counties to provide cost-share to use this technical standard and to update a nutrient management plan to comply with the Silurian bedrock performance standard. This rule establishes a delayed date of implementation.
Soil and Water Conservation on Farms
This subchapter of the rule details the conservation practices landowners shall implement if they engage in agricultural practices.
This rule updates the effective date of compliance with agricultural performance standards under ss. NR 151.02 to 151.08 from May 1, 2014 to June 1, 2018 to incorporate the Silurian bedrock performance standard, s. NR 151.075. This rule removes dates of delayed implementation that have passed. This rule clarifies the process to calculate the cost of maintenance when cost-sharing is required and eliminates the specific inclusion of mowing costs in costs of compliance. The rule clarifies that maintenance costs shall be calculated to cover a standard maintenance period that is defined in the rule or specified in the contract. The rule clarifies exemptions to required cost-sharing by removing contour farming and strip cropping, which are one-time practices and costs, and are not cost-shared for multiple years. Pesticide management was removed as the practice is not related to implementation of the agricultural performance standards. Conservation crop rotation is added to the list of exemptions if cost-shared for 4 years.
County Soil and Water Program
