Amendment AA5-ASA2-AB68

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,5 93.64 Small farm diversity grant program. (1) Grants. The department may award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (fm) to agricultural producers that have been in operation for at least one year and that, in the year prior to applying for a grant, earned less than $350,000 in gross cash farm income. Grants awarded under this section shall be in an amount no less than $5,000 and no more than $50,000. The recipient of a grant under this section shall provide matching funds of 30 percent of the amount of the grant.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,7 (2) Eligible costs. Grants awarded under this section may be used to pay for any of the following:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,10 (a) Costs to develop a new agricultural product or increase production of an agricultural product where market opportunities exist, including business planning, feasibility research, engineering, and architectural designs.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,11 (b) Start-up costs for new agricultural production operations.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,13 (c) Research and development of uses for food, feed, and fiber products that are innovative and add value to agricultural products.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,14 (d) Developing on-farm processing of agricultural commodities.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,15 (e) Developing an agritourism venue.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,17 (3) Priority. The department, in awarding grants under this section, shall give preference to applications that do any of the following:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,19 (a) Develop a business plan with market research and income projections including new and innovative plans for marketing.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,21 (b) Demonstrate a high probability of increased revenue, job creation, or enhanced viability.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,22 (c) Feature research that is innovative as well as commercially plausible.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,23 (d) Demonstrate a high probability of rapid commercialization.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,35,25 (e) Demonstrate a commitment for funding from other private or public sources or from the applicant.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,2 (4) Reports. The recipient of a grant under this section shall submit annual reports to the department documenting grant money expenses and results.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,3 (5) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,335q Section 335q. 93.65 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,7 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:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,8 (a) The product has undergone a change in physical state.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,9 (b) The product is produced in a manner that enhances its value.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,10 (c) The product is physically segregated in a manner that enhances its value.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,11 (d) The product is a source of farm-based or ranch-based renewable energy.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,12 (e) The product is aggregated and marketed as a locally produced farm product.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,16 (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:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,36,25 (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) (fm) 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:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,2 1. Providing education and technical assistance related to implementing organic farming practices.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,3 2. Helping to create organic farming plans.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,4 3. Assisting farmers to transition to organic farming.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,7 (b) Grazing grants. Awarding grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (4) (fm) to appropriate entities to provide education and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,9 (c) Promotion. Helping producers market value-added agricultural products, including products produced through the use of a practice described in s. 93.67.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,10 (3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,13 130. Page 334, line 18: after “in this state." insert “The department may not award a grant of more than $100,000 to any recipient. The recipient of a grant under this section shall providing equal matching funds.".

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,14 131. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,15 “ Section 336f. 93.76 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,19 93.76 Conservation grants. The department shall provide grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (qf) to local governments, nongovernmental organizations, federally recognized American Indian tribes or bands, businesses, and individuals for any of the following purposes:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,21 (1) To develop and provide education and training to farmers about best practices related to grazing and pasture maintenance.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,37,23 (2) To provide cost-sharing incentive payments to farmers to develop and adopt regenerative agricultural practices.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,2 (3) The department may promulgate rules to administer the program under this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,3 132. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,4 “ Section 336b. 93.74 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,7 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.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,9 (2) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,10 133. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,11 “ Section 336h. 93.77 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,16 93.77 Nitrogen optimization pilot program. (1) In this section, “eligible university entities” means the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Center for Watershed Science and Education at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,19 (2) The department shall award grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (cm) to agricultural producers and eligible university entities as provided under this section.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,38,23 (3) An agricultural producer may apply for and receive a grant to implement a project with the potential to reduce nitrate loading to groundwater in the area. The agricultural producer receiving a grant under this subsection shall collaborate with one or more eligible university entities under sub. (4).

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,5 (4) The eligible university entities shall collaborate with an agricultural producer that receives a grant under sub. (3) to monitor the grant project on-site and to use information gathered from the project to research nitrate loading reduction methods with a goal of making recommendations to agricultural producers to optimize nitrogen usage while improving water quality in this state.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,9 (5) The department may not make a grant to an agricultural producer and the eligible university entities collaborating with the agricultural producer in an amount that totals more than $125,000. No more than 50 percent of this total amount may be awarded to the collaborating eligible university entities.” .

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,10 134. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,11 “ Section 336d. 93.75 of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,14 93.75 Regenerative agriculture practices. (1) The department shall provide grants from the appropriation under s. 20.115 (7) (qf) to provide cost-sharing for the following purposes:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,15 (a) Conducting soil tests and other carbon sequestration analyses.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,16 (b) Updating nutrient management software.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,17 (c) Studying the feasibility of a statewide carbon market.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,18 (d) Assessing the market value of carbon sequestration.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,20 (e) For agricultural producers, implementing regenerative agricultural practices.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,39,22 (2) In conjunction with grants provided under sub. (1), the department shall do all of the following:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,2 (a) Evaluate the potential of existing tools to accurately and efficiently calculate carbon credits generated by producer-led watershed protection grant recipients under s. 93.59 and document the suitability of various carbon credit calculators for use in this state.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,4 (b) Identify opportunities and facilitate groups of agricultural producers to work together to generate carbon credits.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,8 (c) Provide technical assistance to farmers and agricultural agencies and professionals regarding the processes of carbon credit generation and associated risks of market participation to aid them in choosing to collaborate with carbon credit project developers on a verified project in the future.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,10 (d) Study the feasibility of a statewide carbon market and assess the market value of carbon sequestration.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,12 (3) The department may promulgate rules to administer the program under this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,13 135. Page 334, line 18: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,14 “(3) Rules. The department may promulgate rules to administer this section.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,15 136. Page 340, line 11: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,16 “ Section 363c. 196.374 (1) (gm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,40,18 196.374 (1) (gm) “Low-income household” has the meaning given in s. 16.957 (1) (m).

AB68-ASA2-AA5,363f Section 363f. 196.374 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,41,3 196.374 (2) (a) 1. The energy utilities in this state shall collectively establish and fund statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource programs , including programs for low-income households. The energy utilities shall contract, on the basis of competitive bids, with one or more persons to develop and administer the programs. The utilities may not execute a contract under this subdivision unless the commission has approved the contract. The commission shall require each energy utility to spend the amount required under sub. (3) (b) 2. to fund statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource programs.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,363i Section 363i. 196.374 (2) (a) 2. f. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,41,8 196.374 (2) (a) 2. f. Components to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy measures for low-income households in this state and initiatives and market strategies to address the energy needs and decrease the energy burden of low-income households.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,363m Section 363m. 196.374 (3) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,41,19 196.374 (3) (b) 1. At least every 4 years, after notice and opportunity to be heard, the commission shall, by order, evaluate the energy efficiency and renewable resource programs under sub. (2) (a) 1., (b) 1. and 2., and (c) and ordered programs and set or revise goals, priorities, and measurable targets for the programs. The commission shall give priority to programs that moderate the growth in electric and natural gas demand and usage, facilitate markets and assist market providers to achieve higher levels of energy efficiency, promote energy reliability and adequacy, promote energy efficiency and renewable energy measures for low-income households, avoid adverse environmental impacts from the use of energy, and promote rural economic development.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,363p Section 363p. 196.374 (3) (b) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,2 196.374 (3) (b) 2. The commission shall require each energy utility to spend 1.2 2.4 percent of its annual operating revenues derived from retail sales to fund the utility's programs under sub. (2) (b) 1., the utility's ordered programs, the utility's share of the statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource programs under sub. (2) (a) 1., and the utility's share, as determined by the commission under subd. 4., of the costs incurred by the commission in administering this section.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,363s Section 363s. 196.374 (3) (f) 5. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,6 196.374 (3) (f) 5. Minimum requirements for energy efficiency and renewable resource programs under sub. (2) (a) 1. for low-income households and eligibility requirements for programs for low-income households.”.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,7 137. Page 340, line 17: after that line insert:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,8 “ Section 364c. 200.35 (14) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,10 200.35 (14) (title) Shore protection projects and dredged material management facility.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,364g Section 364g. 200.35 (14) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,12 200.35 (14) (a) 2. “Project" means a any of the following:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,16 a. A shore protection or erosion control project which consists, in whole or in part, of waste rock produced by construction projects undertaken by the commission and which has been requested, by resolution, by a political subdivision with territory in the district's service area.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,364L Section 364L. 200.35 (14) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,18 200.35 (14) (a) 2. b. A dredged material management facility.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,364p Section 364p. 200.35 (14) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,42,23 200.35 (14) (b) The commission may construct a project under this subsection and may finance and construct a project that is a dredged material management facility. This paragraph does not apply to the construction of any project on or after January 1, 1992 2032.

AB68-ASA2-AA5,364t Section 364t. 200.35 (14) (d) 3m. of the statutes is created to read:

AB68-ASA2-AA5,43,4 200.35 (14) (d) 3m. Notwithstanding any requirements to the contrary in subds. 1. to 3., for a dredged material management facility constructed by the commission, the commission shall pay for all costs of the project through its capital budget and shall finance the project over a period of 35 years.