ATCP 156.05
ATCP 156.05 Classifying certified seed potatoes. ATCP 156.05(1)(a)(a) The college shall classify certified seed potatoes according to Table 3. The college shall use the standard classification except that, if the seed potatoes are descended from propagative material approved under
s. ATCP 156.03 (1) (f), the college shall use the experimental classification.
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See PDF for table 
ATCP 156.05(1)(b)3.
3. “Certified" means certified seed potatoes other than foundation seed potatoes.
ATCP 156.05(1)(b)4.
4. In each column, classifications are listed from highest (top) to lowest (bottom).
ATCP 156.05(2)
(2) Classification based on years of field propagation. ATCP 156.05(2)(a)1.
1. Certify, under the standard classification, seed potatoes from a line with more than 7 generations of field propagation.
ATCP 156.05(2)(a)2.
2. Certify, under the experimental classification, seed potatoes from a line with more than 3 generations of field propagation. The college shall classify the first field-propagated generation as “Ex5."
ATCP 156.05 Note
Note: “Field propagation" does not include outdoor production of propagative material at a breeding farm, prior to time that the college approves that propagative material under s.
ATCP 156.03 (1) (f) for use at a seed potato farm. See s.
ATCP 156.01 (10) (b).
ATCP 156.05(2)(b)
(b) The college shall downgrade the classification of certified seed potatoes by one step for each year of field propagation, except that no potatoes may be certified as foundation seed potatoes unless they meet the standards under
s. ATCP 156.03.
ATCP 156.05 Note
Note: Pathogen populations in seed potatoes normally increase with each year (generation) of field propagation. Under the standard classification system, seed potatoes may be certified for up to 6 generations as “foundation" seed potatoes (for use as seed for other certified seed potatoes). The 7th generation may be certified as seed for commercial potatoes, but not for growing other certified seed potatoes.
Seed potatoes are normally downgraded by one step for each year of field propagation. But if they fail to meet standards under s.
ATCP 156.03 (5) for “foundation" seed potatoes, they must be downgraded to “certified" class even if they have been propagated in the field for fewer than 7 years. If they fail to meet the basic standards for certification under s.
ATCP 156.03, they may not be certified at all.
ATCP 156.05(2)(c)
(c) Foundation seed potatoes certified by another state shall be treated as having an equivalent classification under Table 3 based on years of field propagation. If the seed potatoes do not bear a classification showing the year of field propagation, they shall be treated as FY5.
ATCP 156.05 Note
Note: Under s.
ATCP 156.03 (1) (e), foundation seed potatoes certified by another state may be used to grow certified seed potatoes in this state if the other state uses equivalent certification standards and the college pre-approves the use.
ATCP 156.05(3)(a)(a) The college may grant one of the following classification renewals one time for any line of certified seed potatoes:
ATCP 156.05(3)(a)1.
1. The college may classify, as “FY5" rather than “certified," certified seed potatoes produced from seed potatoes classified as “FY6."
ATCP 156.05(3)(a)2.
2. The college may classify, as “Ex5" rather than “certified," certified seed potatoes produced from seed potatoes classified as “Ex6."
ATCP 156.05 Note
Note: Among other things, a classification renewal under par. (a) may allow continued production of a minor or experimental variety for which there may be a limited seed supply. A renewal gives seed potato growers another 3 years to find a new seed source for that variety.
ATCP 156.05(3)(b)
(b) The college may grant a classification renewal under
par. (a) if all of the following apply:
ATCP 156.05(3)(b)1.
1. The seed potato grower requests the renewal in writing, and submits information to justify the renewal.
ATCP 156.05 Note
Note: For example, the seed potato grower may document favorable test results, “tuber unit planting," a limited supply of a special variety, or other conditions that may warrant the renewal. “Tuber unit planting" means cutting seed potatoes into pieces and planting the pieces together in the field in such a way that if any progeny plants from any tuber are diseased or off-variety, all progeny from that tuber will be identified and discarded.
ATCP 156.05(3)(b)3.
3. The college finds that the renewal will not jeopardize seed potato quality, or pose a significant risk of harm to the potato industry or consumers.
ATCP 156.05(3)(c)
(c) The college may require laboratory tests on a representative sample of any seed potatoes for which a seed potato grower requests a classification renewal under
par. (a).
ATCP 156.05 History
History: CR 06-085: cr. Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07. ATCP 156.06
ATCP 156.06 Storage and handling of certified seed potatoes. ATCP 156.06(1)(1)
Storage with other potatoes prohibited. No person may store certified seed potatoes in the same storage facility with uncertified seed potatoes, except that a person may store lots of certified seed potatoes in the same facility with any of the following:
ATCP 156.06(1)(a)
(a) Lots of seed potatoes that have been proposed for certification.
ATCP 156.06(1)(b)
(b) Lots of seed potatoes that have been rejected for certification solely because of unacceptable virus levels.
ATCP 156.06 Note
Note: Viruses, unlike bacteria or nematodes, cannot spread from tuber to tuber in storage.
ATCP 156.06(2)
(2) Varieties may not be commingled. No person may store, in the same bin or container, certified seed potatoes from more than one variety.
ATCP 156.06(3)
(3) Clean and disinfected storage facilities. No person may store certified seed potatoes in a facility previously used to store potatoes other than certified seed potatoes, unless all of the following first occur:
ATCP 156.06(3)(a)
(a) The person cleans and disinfects the storage facility according to college specifications.
ATCP 156.06(3)(b)
(b) The college inspects the storage facility, and posts in the facility a dated written notice certifying that the storage facility has been cleaned and disinfected to college specifications.
ATCP 156.06(4)
(4) Labeling storage bins. A person storing certified seed potatoes shall clearly label each storage bin with the bin measurements, the name of the seed potato grower, the potato variety, and the source of the foundation seed potatoes or other propagative material used to produce the certified seed potatoes.
ATCP 156.06(5)
(5) Shipments protected. Certified seed potatoes and other propagative material shall be protected from deterioration and contamination during shipment. The college may disqualify propagative material from use under
s. ATCP 156.03 (1) if the college finds that shipping methods do not comply with this subsection.
ATCP 156.06 History
History: CR 06-085: cr. Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07. ATCP 156.07
ATCP 156.07 Approved laboratory or greenhouse. ATCP 156.07(1)(1)
Laboratory or greenhouse in this state. The college may approve a laboratory or greenhouse in this state, for purposes of
s. ATCP 156.03 (1) (d), if all of the following apply:
ATCP 156.07(1)(a)
(a) The college first inspects the laboratory or greenhouse facilities, equipment, procedures and records before granting approval for production of propagative material.
ATCP 156.07(1)(b)
(b) The college inspects all greenhouse-produced minitubers at least once during their growth, and at least once at harvest or in storage, prior to shipment and field planting.
ATCP 156.07(1)(c)
(c) In the preparation and distribution of propagative material, the laboratory or greenhouse uses testing, propagation, isolation and sanitation procedures approved by the college.
ATCP 156.07(1)(d)
(d) The initial tissue culture plantlets or other propagative material used for laboratory propagation is tested for all pathogens of concern using methods approved by the college.
ATCP 156.07(1)(e)
(e) The operator of the laboratory or greenhouse does all of the following:
ATCP 156.07(1)(e)1.
1. Applies to the college for approval, and provides information reasonably required by the college for purposes of evaluation and approval under this subsection.
ATCP 156.07(1)(e)2.
2. Agrees to pay the college's reasonable costs to inspect, evaluate and approve the laboratory or greenhouse under this subsection.
ATCP 156.07(1)(e)3.
3. Keeps complete records of laboratory or greenhouse operations, and makes the records available to the college for inspection upon request.
ATCP 156.07(1)(e)4.
4. Keeps complete and accurate records of all propagative materials distributed for use in the production of certified seed potatoes. Records shall include the applicable college approval under
s. ATCP 156.03 (1) (d), the potato variety, the type of propagative material, the amount of propagative material produced and distributed, the date of each shipment, the name and address of the person receiving each shipment, and a complete record of all disease tests on the propagative material.
ATCP 156.07(1)(e)5.
5. Labels propagative material as directed by the college, consistent with this chapter.
ATCP 156.07(2)
(2) Laboratory or greenhouse outside this state. The college may approve a laboratory or greenhouse in another state, for purposes of
s. ATCP 156.03, if the seed potato certification agency in the other state approves that laboratory or greenhouse based on standards and procedures equivalent to the standards and procedures in
sub. (1).
ATCP 156.07 History
History: CR 06-085: cr. Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07. ATCP 156.08(1)
(1)
Request for meeting to review action. A person adversely affected by an action of the college under this subchapter, including an action denying or withdrawing any certification or approval under this subchapter, may make a written request for an informal meeting with the college to discuss the action.
ATCP 156.08(2)(a)(a) If the college receives a written request under
sub. (1), a representative designated by the college shall hold an informal meeting with the requester. The college shall hold the informal meeting within 30 days after it receives the written request, unless the requester agrees to a later meeting date. The meeting may be held in person or by telephone.
ATCP 156.08(2)(b)
(b) At the informal meeting under
par. (a), the college may explain the basis for its action. A requester may also present information or arguments related to the action.
ATCP 156.08(3)(a)(a) If a disputed matter under
sub. (1) is not resolved after a meeting under
sub. (2), the person who requested the meeting may request a contested case hearing before the department, pursuant to s.
227.42, Stats., and
ch. ATCP 1. The person shall make the request under
s. ATCP 1.06, as if the person were requesting a hearing on a department action. The department shall grant or deny the hearing request as provided in
s. ATCP 1.06 (3).
ATCP 156.08(3)(b)
(b) Following a contested case hearing under
ch. 227, Stats., and
ch. ATCP 1, the department may reverse, modify or remand an action of the college under this subchapter if the department finds that the action is contrary to this subchapter. The department may not reverse, modify or remand an action of the college if the college has acted within the scope of its discretion under this subchapter.
ATCP 156.08 History
History: CR 06-085: cr. Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07. ATCP 156.10
ATCP 156.10 Grading certified seed potatoes; general. ATCP 156.10(1)(1)
Grading by department. At the request of a seed potato grower, the department may grade a lot of seed potatoes that the college has certified under
s. ATCP 156.02 (1). The department shall grade the lot according to this subchapter, based on a grading inspection under
sub. (5). The department may not grade the lot until the college issues its certification in writing under
s. ATCP 156.02 (3).
ATCP 156.10(2)
(2) Grade assignment. Whenever the department grades a lot of certified seed potatoes under
sub. (1), the department shall assign that lot a grade under
sub. (3). The department may refuse to assign a grade if the lot fails to comply with any of the grade standards under
sub. (3). The department shall do all of the following whenever the department assigns a grade to a lot:
ATCP 156.10(2)(a)
(a) Issue to the seed potato grower a grade certificate that includes all of the following:
ATCP 156.10 Note
Note: A graded lot may be a subset of a lot certified by the college under subch. II.
ATCP 156.10(2)(a)3.
3. A description of the graded lot. The description shall include the potato variety and shall identify the storage bin, container or conveyance in which the potatoes were held when graded.
ATCP 156.10(2)(a)5.
5. The identification numbers of the department seals issued for the graded lot under
par. (b).
ATCP 156.10(2)(b)
(b) Issue an appropriate number of seals for the graded lot. Each seal shall bear an identification number that is unique to that seal. The seed potato grower may use the seals to attach certification tags, issued by the college under
s. ATCP 156.02 (3) (a), to seed potato shipments from the graded lot. Certification tags shall be those issued for the certification lot from which the graded lot originates.
ATCP 156.10 Note
Note: The issuance of the seal does not necessarily mean the department actually seals the bag, tote, bin, truck or other container of inspected potatoes. In many cases, the potatoes are handled by other persons after the department inspects the potatoes and before they are delivered to the customer.
ATCP 156.10(3)
(3) Grades and grade standards. The following grades of certified seed potatoes shall meet the following grade standards:
ATCP 156.10(3)(c)
(c)
Badger state foundation brand. Badger state foundation brand potatoes shall meet the grade standards in
s. ATCP 156.14.
ATCP 156.10(4)
(4) Request for grading. A seed potato grower shall make a grading request under
sub. (1) in writing, on a form provided by the department. The requester shall agree to pay the department's reasonable grading costs, as determined by the department. A grading request may cover 2 or more lots of seed potatoes.
ATCP 156.10 Note
Note: To obtain the form required under sub. (4), a seed potato grower may do any of the following:
• Visit the department's website at
www.datcp.state.wi.us.
• Call the department's fruit and vegetable inspection office at 715/345-5212.
• Call the department's Bureau of Business Trade Practices at 608/224-4998.
ATCP 156.10(5)
(5) Grading inspection. The department shall grade a lot of certified seed potatoes based on visual inspection of one or more samples of potatoes selected from that lot. The department shall select samples that appear to be visually representative of the lot. Each sample shall include at least 20 pounds of potatoes and the number of individual samples from each lot may vary with the size of the lot. Tolerances for size and defects shall be calculated on the basis of weight. The department shall inspect enough samples to obtain a reliable representation of the lot.
ATCP 156.10(6)(a)(a) The occurrence rate for a defect or size violation in a graded lot, determined as an average of the occurrence rates for each of the samples selected under
sub. (5) from the graded lot, may not exceed the applicable tolerance specified under
s. ATCP 156.12 or
156.13.
ATCP 156.10(6)(b)
(b) Within an individual sample selected under
sub. (5) from a graded lot, except as provided in
par. (c) or
(d):
ATCP 156.10(6)(b)1.
1. No defect or size violation may occur at a rate that is more than 1.5 times the applicable tolerance specified in
s. ATCP 156.12 or
156.13 if that tolerance is more than 10%.
