94.31
94.31
Service of notice. In all cases arising under
ss. 94.26 to
94.30 when it shall be necessary to serve any notice upon any person who may be out of the state or whose whereabouts shall not be known to the person desiring to serve the same, such notice may be served upon any agent or employee of such person who may be found within this state, and such service shall have the same effect as if it was made upon the party interested.
94.32
94.32
Pay of arbitrators. The arbitrators appointed under
s. 94.28 shall each receive $3 per day for their services, to be paid in whole or in part by either party as the arbitrators determine.
94.32 History
History: 1997 a. 253.
94.35
94.35
Cranberry Growers Association. The Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association shall obtain and publish information relative to the cultivation and production of cranberries. The association shall hold semiannual meetings in August and January at such place as it shall determine.
94.35 History
History: 1983 a. 524.
94.38
94.38
Agricultural and vegetable seeds; definitions. When used in
ss. 94.38 to
94.46 unless the context requires otherwise:
94.38(1)
(1) "Advertisement" means all representations, other than those on the label, disseminated in any manner or by any means relating to seed within the scope of
ss. 94.38 to
94.46.
94.38(2)
(2) "Agricultural seed" includes the seeds of grass, forage, cereal, fiber crops and lawn seeds and any other kinds of seeds commonly recognized and sold within this state for sowing purposes as agricultural seeds or mixtures thereof, and may include noxious weed seeds if used as agricultural seed.
94.38(7)
(7) "Label" means the display of written, printed or graphic matter upon or attached to the container of seed or, for seed sold in bulk quantities, included with the invoice or shipping document furnished the purchaser at time of delivery.
94.38(8)
(8) "Labeler" means any person who as grower, processor, jobber, distributor or seller labels or accepts responsibility for labeling information pertaining to any container or lot of agricultural seed or vegetable seed and whose name and address are required by the department by rule to appear on the label.
94.38(10)
(10) "Lawn seed" means the seed of grasses, clovers or other agricultural seeds or mixtures thereof commonly used or sold for seeding lawns, parks or turf areas in this state.
94.38(11)
(11) "Lot" means a definite quantity of seed identified by a lot number or other mark, every portion or bag of which is uniform within recognized tolerances for the factors which appear in the labeling.
94.38(14)
(14) "Preinoculated seed" means legume seed which has received an application, prior to sale, of a culture of bacteria which will effectively inoculate the legume as shown by nodulation of the roots, growth of the plants and accumulation of nitrogen in the plants.
94.38(16)
(16) "Record" means all information relating to lot, identification, source, origin, variety, amount, processing, blending, testing, labeling, sale and distribution of seed and includes a file sample of each lot.
94.38(18)
(18) "Seizure" means the taking of legal custody over seed by court order.
94.385
94.385
Seed label requirements. 94.385(1)
(1) No person may sell, distribute, or offer or expose for sale in this state a container of agricultural seed or vegetable seed for seeding or sprouting purposes unless the container bears or has attached to it in a conspicuous place a label containing the information required by the department by rule.
94.385(2)
(2) Except as provided under
s. 94.43 (2), no person may sell in this state a bulk lot of agricultural or vegetable seed for seeding or sprouting purposes unless the person includes with the invoice or shipping document furnished the purchaser at time of delivery a label containing the information required by the department by rule.
94.385 History
History: 1985 a. 138;
2009 a. 28.
94.40
94.40
Seed certification. 94.40(2)(2) The Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association, a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of this state, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the department, shall be the certifying agency for the certification of agricultural seed and vegetable seed in the state.
94.40(3)
(3) The Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the department, shall establish standards and procedures for the certification of agricultural seed and vegetable seed, subject to approval of the department. Standards and procedures established under this subsection shall comply with rules promulgated by the department and be no less stringent than those prescribed by the Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies.
94.40(4)
(4) The Wisconsin Crop Improvement Association, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the department, shall be the certifying agency for the certification of weed free mulch, hay, and straw, and shall base its certifications on the standards of the North American Weed Management Association.
94.41
94.41
Prohibitions. 94.41(1)(1) It is unlawful for any person to sell, distribute or offer or expose for sale any agricultural or vegetable seed:
94.41(1)(a)
(a) Unless the test to determine the percentage of germination required by the department by rule is completed within a 12-month period immediately prior to the end of the month in which the seed is sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale, except that seed packaged in hermetically sealed containers may be sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale under any conditions that the department prescribes by rule, for a period of 36 months following the end of the month in which the seed is tested. No seed in hermetically sealed containers may be sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale beyond that 36-month period unless it is retested within the 9-month period immediately prior to the end of the month in which it is sold, distributed, or offered or exposed for sale and the retested seed is labeled with the extended expiration date.
94.41(1)(b)
(b) Not labeled in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, or containing any labeling statements which modify or deny label information required under rules promulgated by the department, or having any other false or misleading labeling.
94.41(1)(c)
(c) Pertaining to which there has been a false or misleading advertisement, claim or representation.
94.41(1)(d)
(d) Containing prohibited noxious weed seeds in excess of tolerances established by rules of the department.
94.41(1)(h)
(h) Represented to be certified seed by means of any labeling, advertisement or other representations unless it is certified and bears an official certification label.
94.41(1)(i)
(i) Having attached thereto a blue label, unless such label is an official certification label authorized for use on such seed by a seed certifying agency.
94.41(1)(j)
(j) When the inoculum applied to preinoculated seed is ineffective as determined by standards established by rules of the department.
94.41(1)(k)
(k) Not certified by an official seed certifying agency, if labeled under the variety name of a variety of seed which is protected by and can only be sold as a class of certified seed under a certificate of plant variety protection issued under the federal plant variety protection act (
7 USC 2321 et. seq.), provided that seed from a certified lot may be labeled as to variety name when used in a mixture by, or with the approval of, the owner of the variety.
94.41(2)
(2) It is unlawful for any person:
94.41(2)(a)
(a) To detach, alter, deface or destroy any label attached to or accompanying seed, or to alter or substitute seed in a manner which would defeat the purposes of the rules of the department relating to the labeling of seed or result in the sale or distribution of seed in violation of
ss. 94.38 to
94.46 or rules promulgated under those sections.
94.41(2)(b)
(b) To disseminate any false or misleading advertisements, or make any false or misleading claims concerning agricultural or vegetable seeds in any manner or by any means.
94.41(2)(c)
(c) To hinder or obstruct in any way, any authorized person in the performance of the person's duties under
ss. 94.38 to
94.46.
94.41(2)(d)
(d) To fail to comply with a "stop sale" order or to make any other disposition of any lot of seed contrary to the provisions of such order.
94.41(2)(e)
(e) To use the word "trace" as a substitute for any labeling required under rules of the department relating to the composition of seeds or seed mixtures.
94.41(2)(f)
(f) To use the word "type" in any labeling in connection with the name of any agricultural seed variety.
94.41(2)(g)
(g) To make a false declaration of gross annual sales on any application for a seed labeler's license or to fail to keep available for inspection by the department accurate records of gross annual sales of seeds sold in this state as a labeler.
94.42
94.42
Exemptions. The provisions of
ss. 94.38 to
94.46 do not apply to:
94.42(1)
(1) Seed or grain not intended for sowing purposes, except where it is made to appear by labeling, advertising or other representations that it is available for purchase or is being sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale as seed; or where it is represented as being suitable for use as seed by such terms as cleaned, processed, treated, tested, certified or terms of similar import.
94.42(2)
(2) To seed in storage in, or being transported or consigned to, a cleaning or processing establishment for cleaning or processing; but any labeling or other representation which may be made with respect to the uncleaned or unprocessed seed shall be subject to
ss. 94.38 to
94.46.
94.42(3)
(3) Any carrier in respect to any seed delivered or consigned to it by others for transportation in the ordinary course of its business as a carrier.
94.42(4)
(4) Any person in respect to any seed sold, distributed or offered or exposed for sale which was incorrectly labeled or represented as to kind, variety or origin, provided that the seeds cannot be identified by examination thereof, unless the person has failed to obtain an invoice, genuine grower's declaration or other labeling information reasonably necessary to insure the seed is as represented.
94.42 History
History: 1985 a. 138.
94.43
94.43
Seed labeler's license. 94.43(1)
(1) Every person whose name and address are required to appear on the label of any seed as the labeler or person responsible for the labeling of the seed under the rules of the department relating to the labeling of seed, and every person who opens any bag or container of seed and sells any part of the seed contained therein, shall obtain a seed labeler's license from the department before selling, distributing or offering or exposing, the seed for sale in this state.
94.43(2)
(2) No person may sell, distribute or offer or expose for sale in this state any seed not labeled by the holder of a seed labeler's license whose name and address are on the label, except that no license shall be required to sell seed of one's own production if it is delivered to the purchaser only on the farm premises where grown or to sell seed only in bags or other closed containers labeled by the holder of a seed labeler's license. Labels are not required for seed packaged at time of sale at retail by the holder of a seed labeler's license if the bin or other container from which the seed is sold bears a label and the seed with its labeling may be readily examined by the purchaser prior to sale. Seed sold by a licensed labeler under this exception shall be considered as having been sold under his or her label for purposes of computing license fees under
sub. (3).
94.43(3)
(3) Application for a seed labeler's license shall be submitted on a form prescribed by the department and shall be accompanied by a fee based on the gross sales of seed within the state by the applicant under his or her own label during the previous 12 months prior to filing the application. Fees for a labeler's license shall be computed on gross sales according to the following schedule, except that the department may specify different fees by rule:
94.43(3)(a)
(a) For gross sales that are less than $10,000: $25.
94.43(3)(b)
(b) For gross sales that are $10,000 or more but less than $50,000: $50.
94.43(3)(c)
(c) For gross sales that are $50,000 or more but less than $100,000: $100.
94.43(3)(d)
(d) For gross sales that are $100,000 or more but less than $250,000: $300.
94.43(3)(e)
(e) For gross sales that are $250,000 or more but less than $500,000: $500.
94.43(3)(f)
(f) For gross sales that are $500,000 or more but less than $1,000,000: $750.
94.43(3)(g)
(g) For gross sales that are $1,000,000 or more but less than $10,000,000: $1,000.
94.43(3)(h)
(h) For gross sales that are $10,000,000 or more but less than $100,000,000: $1,500.
94.43(3)(i)
(i) For gross sales that are $100,000,000 or more: $2,500.
94.43(4)
(4) The license fee for a new applicant or for a person who did not sell seed under his or her own label during the previous 12 months shall be the minimum fee of $25 for the first year or any part thereof.
94.43(5)
(5) The licenses shall expire on December 31 of each year. Licenses shall not be transferable and no fee or any portion thereof shall be refunded after the license has been issued.
94.44
94.44
Records. Each person whose name is required to appear on the label as the labeler of agricultural or vegetable seeds under rules of the department shall maintain complete records of each lot of seed sold or labeled for a period of 2 years after final sale or disposition of the seed, except that a file sample of the seed need be kept for only one year and except that this section does not require a record of the sale or disposal of each portion of a lot sold at retail in quantities of less than 40 pounds. All records and samples pertaining to any lot of seed shall be accessible for inspection by the department during customary business hours.
94.44 History
History: 2009 a. 28.
94.45
94.45
Powers and authority of the department. 94.45(1)
(1) The department is authorized:
94.45(1)(a)
(a) To enter during regular business hours all places of business, warehouses, freight depots, cars, trucks and all other places where seed is stored, transported, sold or exposed for sale. The department is empowered to sample any container of seed, analyze and test the samples and inspect all records relating to any lot of seed in order to secure evidence of violation of
ss. 94.38 to
94.46.
94.45(1)(b)
(b) To establish and maintain a seed laboratory for the testing and analysis of seed.
94.45(1)(c)
(c) To make purity and germination tests of seed for persons on request and for this purpose may prescribe rules governing such testing and fix and collect charges for tests made.
94.45(1)(d)
(d) To cooperate with the U.S. department of agriculture and other agencies in seed law enforcement.
94.45(1)(e)
(e) To publish at least once a year, in such form as the department deems proper, information concerning the inspection and sales of seed and the results of the analysis of official samples of agricultural and vegetable seeds distributed within the state.
94.45(6)
(6) The department shall promulgate rules that do all of the following:
94.45(6)(a)
(a) Prescribe standards for the labeling, distribution, and sale of agricultural seed and vegetable seed.
94.45(6)(b)
(b) Govern methods of sampling, inspecting, analyzing, testing, and examining agricultural seed and vegetable seed.
94.45(6)(c)
(c) Prescribe tolerances for purity and rate of germination of agricultural seed and vegetable seed.
94.45(6)(d)
(d) Prescribe tolerances for the occurrence of noxious weed seeds in agricultural seed and vegetable seed.
94.45(6)(e)
(e) Identify noxious weeds and prohibited noxious weeds.
94.45(6)(f)
(f) Govern the issuance of seed labeler licenses.
94.45 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ch.
ATCP 20, Wis. adm. code.
94.46
94.46
Stop sale; penalties; enforcement. 94.46(1)
(1) The department may issue a written or printed "stop sale" order to the owner or custodian of any lot of agricultural or vegetable seed not conforming with
ss. 94.38 to
94.46, or rules thereunder. The order shall specify the sections of the law or rules violated and shall prohibit the sale or other disposition of the seed except as the department authorizes or directs. Unless the seed is brought into compliance with the law or rules and is released from the "stop sale" order, or other disposition is agreed upon in writing within 30 days after service of the order, the seed shall be disposed of as the department by notice in writing may direct. This shall not preclude the voluntary signing of a disposal agreement without the issuance of a "stop sale" order. Any notice or order hereunder may be served personally or by mail and shall have the effect of a special order under
s. 93.18 subject to review under
ch. 227 if within 10 days after service of any notice or order, the owner or custodian files with the department a written request for a hearing. Final disposition of the seed shall be stayed during pendency of the hearing but the "stop sale" order shall remain in effect.
94.46(2)
(2) Any lot of agricultural or vegetable seed not in compliance with
ss. 94.38 to
94.46, or rules thereunder, or not disposed of in accordance with any disposal agreement or order under
sub. (1), shall be subject to seizure on complaint of the department to a court of competent jurisdiction. If the court finds the seed to be in violation of law and orders the condemnation of said seed, it shall be denatured, processed, destroyed, relabeled or otherwise disposed of as the court directs.
