93.50(3)(a)(a)
Participation in mediation. A farmer or a person having a dispute with a farmer who wishes to resolve a dispute between them, either before an action has been initiated to which they are parties or after entry of a suspension order in an action to which they are parties under
sub. (2m), may participate in mediation under this section in accordance with this subsection if the dispute is of a kind specified in
par. (am).
93.50(3)(am)
(am)
Disputes that may be mediated. The following kinds of disputes may be mediated under this section:
93.50(3)(am)1.
1. A dispute between a farmer and a creditor involving the farmer's agricultural property and the creditor's claim affecting the agricultural property.
93.50(3)(am)4.
4. A dispute in which one party alleges that an action by, or condition of the property of, the other party is a nuisance.
93.50(3)(am)5.
5. A dispute involving air, water or soil contamination or other environmental issues.
93.50(3)(am)6.
6. A kind of dispute specified as eligible for mediation by the department by rule.
93.50(3)(am)7.
7. A dispute that is not specified under
subds. 1. to
6. if all of the parties to the dispute request mediation of the dispute.
93.50(3)(b)
(b)
Request for mediation; agreement to mediate. To participate in mediation, the farmer or other party to a dispute described in
par. (am) shall submit a request for mediation to the department on forms prepared by the department. The department may not proceed under this section until the farmer and the other party have submitted an agreement to mediate.
93.50(3)(e)
(e)
Selection of mediator. If the department has obtained the agreement under
par. (b), the farmer and the other party may request the department to provide the names, mailing addresses and qualifications of up to 3 mediators located in the geographical area in which the agricultural property or farmer is located. The parties shall select a mediator or, upon request of the parties, the department shall designate a mediator for the parties.
93.50(3)(f)
(f)
Mediation. The function of the mediator is to encourage a voluntary settlement among the parties. The mediator may not compel a settlement. The mediator shall schedule meetings of the parties, direct the parties to prepare for the meetings, attempt to achieve a mediated resolution to the issues among the parties and, if the parties request, assist the parties in preparing a written agreement. All mediation meetings shall be held in this state and be conducted under the laws of this state.
93.50(3)(g)
(g)
Effect of mediation. The parties may at any time withdraw from mediation. The parties have full responsibility for reaching and enforcing any agreement among them. A mediation agreement may include an agreement for the payment of property taxes, special assessments that have been settled in full by the county under
s. 74.29, special charges or special taxes assessed against agricultural property that are subject to a tax certificate issued under
s. 74.57 in instalments, as long as the agreement is not inconsistent with county board policy. After the expiration of the time period specified in the suspension order under
sub. (2m), the parties may no longer participate in the mediation process regarding the same subject matter under this section unless the parties and the mediator agree to continue the mediation.
93.50(4)(a)(a)
Disputes for arbitration. A party to a procurement contract that contains an agreement to submit contract disputes to arbitration wishing to resolve a dispute over the procurement contract or a farmer or creditor wishing to resolve a dispute between them involving the farmer's agricultural property and the creditor's interest in a mortgage, land contract, lien, security interest or judgment affecting the agricultural property, either before an action has been initiated to which they are parties or after entry of a suspension order in an action to which they are parties under
sub. (2m), may participate in arbitration under this section in accordance with this subsection and subject to
ch. 788.
93.50(4)(b)
(b)
Request for arbitration; agreement to arbitrate. To participate in arbitration, the farmer and other party under
par. (a) shall submit a request for arbitration to the department on a form prepared by the department. After receipt of the request, if the parties wish to proceed to arbitration under this subsection, the department shall require the parties to enter into an agreement to binding arbitration on a form prepared by the department.
93.50(4)(e)
(e)
Selection of arbitrator. After the department has obtained the agreement under
par. (b), the farmer and the other party may request the department to provide the names, mailing addresses and qualifications of up to 3 arbitrators located in the geographical area in which the agricultural property or farmer is located. The parties shall select an arbitrator or, upon request of the parties, the department shall designate an arbitrator for the parties.
93.50(5)
(5) Other creditors; no delay. With respect to mediation or arbitration between parties before an action has been initiated to which they are parties, no agreement to mediate or to arbitrate, or the fact that mediation or arbitration is currently occurring, may have the effect of delaying, postponing or extending any time limits in any legal proceeding commenced to enforce a mortgage, land contract, lien, security interest or judgment commenced by a creditor other than the creditor or creditors participating in the mediation or arbitration.
93.51
93.51
Farmer assistance. 93.51(1)(1)
Definitions. In this section:
93.51(2)(a)(a) The department may provide consultation and assistance to distressed farmers, which may include but is not limited to providing employment and retraining counseling for farmers needing employment other than farming, operating a program in which volunteers advise or counsel farmers about financial matters and other concerns and operating a crisis hotline for farmers.
93.51(2)(b)
(b) The department may make grants to low-income farmers for the purpose of paying all or part of the tuition for a farmer who enrolls in a course on farm and business management techniques offered by a technical college.
93.51(2)(c)
(c) The department may promulgate rules necessary to implement this section.
93.51(3)(a)(a) The department may select volunteers to provide advice and counseling services to distressed farmers. Advisors shall have expertise and experience in relevant areas of knowledge.
93.51(3)(b)
(b) The department shall provide any necessary training to advisors.
93.51(3)(c)
(c) Advisors shall be compensated for travel and other necessary expenses in amounts approved by the department.
93.51(3)(d)
(d) Advisors and the department shall keep confidential all information obtained in the process of providing advice or counseling. Any such information contained in a record is not subject to the right of public inspection and copying under
s. 19.35 (1). This paragraph does not apply to information relating to possible criminal misconduct.
93.52
93.52
Dairy farmer exit-entry program. The department shall administer a program to assist in the transfer of farm operations from persons exiting the dairy industry to persons wishing to enter the industry, including assistance in negotiating the financial and legal aspects of farm transfers. The department shall keep confidential information obtained under the program. Any such information contained in a record is not subject to the right of public inspection and copying under
s. 19.35 (1).
93.52 History
History: 1997 a. 264.
93.55
93.55
Chemical and container collection grants. 93.55(1)(1)
Definitions. In this section:
93.55(1)(a)
(a) "Chemical" means a chemical, including a pesticide, that is used for agricultural purposes.
93.55(2)
(2) Collection grants. The department may award a grant to a county for a chemical and container collection program. A grant under this subsection shall fund all or a part of the cost of a program. Costs eligible for funding include the cost of establishing a collection site for chemicals and chemical containers, the cost of transporting chemical containers to a dealer or distributor for refill and reuse or to a hazardous waste facility, as defined in
s. 291.01 (8), and costs associated with the proper use and handling and disposal or recycling of chemicals and chemical containers. Grants shall be paid from the appropriation under
s. 20.115 (7) (v).
93.55(2m)
(2m) Farmer liability. To the extent permitted under federal regulations, a county establishing a chemical and container collection program under
sub. (2), in cooperation with the department, shall ensure that a farmer, as defined in
s. 102.04 (3), who participates in the program is not liable for chemicals or chemical containers collected under the program after the farmer relinquishes control over the chemicals or chemical containers.
93.60
93.60
Computer system equipment, staff and services transfers. The department may transfer to the appropriation account under
s. 20.115 (8) (k) in each fiscal year an amount from the appropriation accounts under
s. 20.115 (1) (g),
(gb),
(gh),
(gm),
(hm),
(j),
(jm),
(m),
(r) and
(s),
(2) (g),
(ha),
(j),
(k) and
(m),
(3) (g),
(h),
(i),
(j),
(ja),
(L) and
(m),
(7) (g),
(ga),
(gm),
(k) and
(m) and
(8) (ga),
(gm),
(h),
(ha),
(i),
(kp),
(ks),
(m) and
(pz). The total amount that the department transfers in each fiscal year from these appropriation accounts to the appropriation account under
s. 20.115 (8) (k) may not exceed the amount specified in the schedule under
s. 20.115 (8) (k) for each fiscal year. The amounts transferred from each appropriation account shall be based on the actual costs incurred by the department for computer system equipment, staff and services provided for the purpose of that appropriation account.
