Chapter ATCP 156

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 ATCP 156.08 Review of college actions.

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) (2) Meeting to review 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) (3) Review by the department.

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.

subch. III of ch. ATCP 156 Subchapter III — Grading

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(2)(a)1. 1. A unique identification number for the graded lot.

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)2. 2. The identity of the seed potato grower.

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)4. 4. A copy of the tag issued by the college under s. ATCP 156.02 (3m).

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)(a) (a) Badger state brand. Badger state brand potatoes shall meet the grade standards in s. ATCP 156.12.

ATCP 156.10(3)(b) (b) Yellow tag brand [grade]. Yellow tag brand [grade] potatoes shall meet the grade standards in s. ATCP 156.13.

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(3)(d) (d) Yellow tag foundation grade. Yellow tag foundation grade potatoes shall meet the grade standards in s. ATCP 156.15.

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) (6) Applying tolerances.

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%.

ATCP 156.10(6)(b)2. 2. No defect or size violation may occur at a rate that is more than twice the applicable tolerance specified in s. ATCP 156.12 or 156.13 if that tolerance is 10% or less.

ATCP 156.10(6)(c) (c) Within an individual sample selected under sub. (5) from a graded lot:

ATCP 156.10(6)(c)1. 1. The rate of sprout damage may not exceed the applicable sprout damage tolerance specified in s. ATCP 156.12 or 156.13.

ATCP 156.10(6)(c)2. 2. There may be no more than one off-size potato and one defective potato.

ATCP 156.10(6)(d) (d) Potatoes damaged by freezing, soft rot or wet breakdown may not occur, at more than 3 times the applicable tolerance specified in s. ATCP 156.12 or 156.13, in more than one-tenth of the samples selected under sub. (5) from a graded lot.

ATCP 156.10 History History: CR 06-085: cr. Register April 2007 No. 616, eff. 5-1-07.

ATCP 156.11 ATCP 156.11 Defects.

ATCP 156.11(1) (1) External defects. External defects in a certified seed potato include the following:

ATCP 156.11(1)(a) (a) Deep air cracks that penetrate beyond the vascular ring.

ATCP 156.11(1)(b) (b) Shallow air cracks that materially detract from the appearance of the potato.

ATCP 156.11(1)(c) (c) Second growth or growth cracks that materially detract from the appearance of the potato.

ATCP 156.11(1)(d) (d) Brown or dark skin discoloration that materially detracts from the appearance of the potato.

ATCP 156.11(1)(e) (e) Shriveling, sponginess or flabbiness, except minor shriveling.

ATCP 156.11(1)(f) (f) A sprout over one inch long.

ATCP 156.11(1)(g) (g) One or more scabs that together cover more than 5% of the potato surface. Scabs may include pitted scabs.

ATCP 156.11(1)(h) (h) Pitted scab that causes a loss of more than 5% of the weight of the potato.

ATCP 156.11(1)(i) (i) Rhizoctonia that materially detracts from the appearance of the potato.

ATCP 156.11(1)(j) (j) Wireworm or grass damage that includes any of the following:

ATCP 156.11(1)(j)1. 1. In a potato that is at approximately 2½ inches wide or weighs approximately 6 ounces, a hole more than ¾ inch long or multiple holes with an aggregate length of more than 1¼ inch.

ATCP 156.11(1)(j)2. 2. Proportionately smaller or larger holes in a smaller or larger potato.

ATCP 156.11(1)(k) (k) A more than slight amount of dirt or foreign matter adhering to the potato, or present in the sample of potatoes.

ATCP 156.11(2) (2) Internal defects. Internal defects in a certified seed potato include the following:

ATCP 156.11(2)(a) (a) Ingrown sprouts, if removal causes a loss of more than 5% of the weight of the potato.

ATCP 156.11(2)(b) (b) Internal discoloration, occurring entirely within the vascular ring, which includes any of the following:

ATCP 156.11(2)(b)1. 1. In a potato that is at approximately 2½ inches wide or weighs approximately 6 ounces, the equivalent of 3 scattered light brown spots 1/8 inch in diameter.

ATCP 156.11(2)(b)2. 2. A proportionately smaller or larger number or size of spots in a smaller or larger potato.

ATCP 156.11(2)(c) (c) Internal discoloration located or extending outside of the vascular ring, if removal causes a loss of more than 5% of the weight of the potato.

ATCP 156.11(3) (3) Defects constituting serious damage. The following defects constitute serious damage:

ATCP 156.11(3)(a) (a) Caked dirt covering more than ½ of the potato.