Chapter 126

126.63 126.63 Vegetable contractors; business practices.

126.63(1) (1) Vegetable grading and tare.

126.63(1)(a) (a) A vegetable contractor shall grade vegetables according to the following standards if the vegetable grade may affect the amount received by the vegetable producer:

126.63(1)(a)1. 1. Standard grading procedures that the department establishes by rule.

126.63(1)(a)2. 2. Uniform grade standards that the department establishes by rule, unless the vegetable procurement contract clearly specifies alternative grade standards.

126.63(1)(b) (b) If a vegetable contractor makes any deduction for tare, the vegetable contractor shall determine tare according to procedures that the department establishes by rule.

126.63(1)(c) (c) The department shall establish grade standards for vegetables that conform to grade standards adopted by the federal department of agriculture under 7 USC 1621 to 1632.

126.63(2) (2) Prohibited deductions. No vegetable purchaser may deduct, from the amount payable under a vegetable procurement contract, an amount designated for the payment of any vegetable contractor license fee, surcharge, or fund assessment under this subchapter.

126.63(3) (3) Timely payment. A vegetable contractor shall pay a vegetable producer or producer agent according to the vegetable procurement contract. The vegetable contractor shall make the following payments by the following dates, unless the contract specifies a different payment date in writing:

126.63(3)(a) (a) The 15th day of the month immediately following the month in which the vegetable contractor harvests or accepts delivery of processing vegetables, the full amount owed under the contract for those vegetables.

126.63(3)(b) (b) The 15th day of the month immediately following the month in which the vegetable contractor rejects or fails to harvest processing vegetables tendered under the vegetable procurement contract, the full amount owed under the contract for those vegetables.

126.63(4) (4) Annual payment deadline.

126.63(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) or (c), a vegetable contractor shall pay all outstanding obligations to vegetable producers by January 31 of each license year.

126.63(4)(b) (b) For processing vegetables tendered or delivered in January of any license year, a vegetable contractor shall pay the full amount owed under the vegetable procurement contract by February 15 or by the 30th day after the date of delivery, whichever date is later.

126.63(4)(c) (c) A vegetable contractor may pay after January 31 for processing vegetables delivered on or before December 31, in accordance with a deferred payment contract, if all of the following apply:

126.63(4)(c)1. 1. The vegetable contractor complies with sub. (5).

126.63(4)(c)2. 2. The deferred payment contract specifies a date by which full payment must be paid.

126.63(4)(c)3. 3. The deferred payment contract clearly and conspicuously discloses that the vegetable producer or producer agent is disqualified from filing a default claim under s. 126.70 in the event that the vegetable contractor defaults on payment under the deferred payment contract. The department may by rule or order specify the form and content of the disclosure.

126.63(5) (5) Deferred payment contract.

126.63(5)(a) (a) Before a vegetable contractor offers a deferred payment contract to any vegetable producer, the vegetable contractor shall put the deferred payment contract to a vote of vegetable producers, as provided in par. (b), obtain the approval of a majority of the voting vegetable producers, and comply with par. (c).

126.63(5)(b) (b) To put a deferred payment contract to a vote of vegetable producers, the vegetable contractor shall give written notice to all vegetable producers in this state from whom the vegetable contractor procured the same type of processing vegetables during the preceding license year. In the notice, the vegetable contractor shall include a copy of the proposed contract, shall announce a meeting at which the vegetable producers will be asked to vote on the proposed contract, and shall include a mail ballot by which a vegetable producer may vote without attending the meeting. The vegetable contractor shall conduct the voting by secret ballot.

126.63(5)(c) (c) To comply with this paragraph, a vegetable contractor shall file all of the following with the department:

126.63(5)(c)1. 1. A sworn statement certifying that the contract was approved in a vote of vegetable producers under this subsection.

126.63(5)(c)2. 2. Any additional security required under s. 126.61 (3).

126.63(6) (6) Cash on delivery. A vegetable contractor shall pay cash on delivery under all vegetable procurement contracts if any of the following applies:

126.63(6)(a) (a) The vegetable contractor stated, in the vegetable contractor’s last annual statement under s. 126.56 (9) (g), that the vegetable contractor would pay cash on delivery.

126.63(6)(b) (b) The department disqualifies the vegetable contractor, under s. 126.59 (2) (c), or requires the vegetable contractor to pay cash on delivery under s. 126.61 (6) (e).

126.63 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 296.

126.64 126.64 Vegetable contractors; prohibited practices. No vegetable contractor, or officer, employee, or agent of a vegetable contractor, may do any of the following:

126.64(1) (1) Misrepresent the weight, grade, or quality of processing vegetables under a vegetable procurement contract.

126.64(2) (2) Falsify any record or account, or conspire with any other person to falsify a record or account.

126.64(3) (3) Make any false or misleading representation to the department.

126.64(4) (4) If the vegetable contractor is licensed under s. 126.56, engage in any activity that is inconsistent with representations made in the vegetable contractor’s annual license application.

126.64(5) (5) Make any false or misleading representation to a vegetable producer or producer agent related to matters regulated under this chapter.

126.64(6) (6) Fail to file the full amount of security required under s. 126.61 (6) by the date that the department specifies.

126.64(7) (7) Assault, threaten, intimidate, or otherwise interfere with an officer, employee, or agent of the department in the performance of his or her duties.

126.64 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2009 a. 296.

subch. VII of ch. 126 SUBCHAPTER VII

RECOVERY PROCEEDINGS

126.68 126.68 Definitions. In this subchapter:

126.68(1) (1) “Contributing contractor” means any of the following:

126.68(1)(a) (a) A contributing grain dealer, as defined in s. 126.10 (3).

126.68(1)(b) (b) A contributing grain warehouse keeper, as defined in s. 126.25 (2).

126.68(1)(c) (c) A contributing milk contractor, as defined in s. 126.40 (1).

126.68(1)(d) (d) A contributing vegetable contractor, as defined in s. 126.55 (4).

126.68(2) (2) “Depositor” has the meaning given in s. 126.25 (5).

126.68(3) (3) “Grain dealer” has the meaning given in s. 126.10 (9).

126.68(4) (4) “Grain producer” has the meaning given in s. 126.10 (10).

126.68(5) (5) “Grain warehouse keeper” has the meaning given in s. 126.25 (9).

126.68(6) (6) “Milk contractor” has the meaning given in s. 126.40 (8).

126.68(7) (7) “Milk producer” has the meaning given in s. 126.40 (10).

126.68(8) (8) “Producer grain” has the meaning given in s. 126.10 (14).

126.68(9) (9) “Producer milk” has the meaning given s. 126.40 (14).

126.68(10) (10) “Vegetable contractor” has the meaning given in s. 126.55 (14).

126.68(11) (11) “Vegetable procurement contract” has the meaning given in s. 126.55 (15).

126.68(12) (12) “Vegetable producer” has the meaning given in s. 126.55 (16).

126.68 History History: 2001 a. 16.

126.70 126.70 Recovery proceedings.

126.70(1) (1) Default claims.

126.70(1)(a) (a) A person who is one of the following may file a default claim with the department against a contractor who is licensed, or required to be licensed, under this chapter, unless the person has waived eligibility to file a claim as provided in pars. (b) and (c):

126.70(1)(a)1. 1. A grain producer or producer agent, as defined in s. 126.10 (13), who claims that a grain dealer has failed to pay, when due, for producer grain that the grain dealer procured in this state.

126.70(1)(a)2. 2. A depositor who is either a grain producer or a producer agent, as defined in s. 126.10 (13), and who claims that a grain warehouse keeper has failed to return stored grain or its equivalent upon demand.

126.70(1)(a)3. 3. A milk producer or producer agent, as defined in s. 126.40 (13), who claims that a milk contractor has failed to pay, when due, for producer milk procured in this state.

126.70(1)(a)4. 4. A vegetable producer or producer agent, as defined in s. 126.55 (12), who claims that a vegetable contractor has failed to make payment when due under a vegetable procurement contract.

126.70(1)(b) (b) A producer or producer agent may permanently waive eligibility to file a default claim against a grain dealer, milk contractor, or vegetable contractor if, at the time of the waiver, any of the following applies:

126.70(1)(b)1. 1. The producer or producer agent has a greater than 50 percent ownership interest in the grain dealer, milk contractor, or vegetable contractor.

126.70(1)(b)2. 2. Persons who collectively have a greater than 50 percent ownership interest in the producer or producer agent also collectively have a greater than 50 percent ownership interest in the grain dealer, milk contractor, or vegetable contractor.

126.70(1)(c) (c) A producer or producer agent shall file a waiver under par. (b) with the department in writing, on a form provided by the department. In the waiver, the producer or producer agent shall include documentation to show that the requirements in par. (b) are satisfied and that the individuals signing the waiver are authorized to do so on behalf of the producer or producer agent.

126.70(2) (2) Filing default claims. A claimant shall file a default claim under sub. (1) within 30 days after the claimant first learns of the default, subject to sub. (3). The claimant shall specify the nature and amount of the default. The department may investigate the alleged default and may require the claimant to provide supporting documentation.

126.70(3) (3) Initiating a recovery proceeding.

126.70(3)(a) (a) The department may initiate a recovery proceeding in response to one or more default claims under sub. (1). The department shall issue a written notice announcing the recovery proceeding. The department shall mail or deliver a copy of the notice to the contractor and each claimant in the proceeding.

126.70(3)(b) (b) If the department has reason to believe that other persons may have default claims under sub. (1) against the same contractor, the department may invite those persons to file their claims in the recovery proceeding. The department may publish the invitation in any of the following ways:

126.70(3)(b)1. 1. By posting it at the contractor’s place of business.

126.70(3)(b)2. 2. By publishing it as a class 3 notice under ch. 985.

126.70(3)(b)3. 3. By mailing or delivering it to prospective claimants known to the department.

126.70(3)(b)4. 4. By other means that the department considers appropriate.

126.70(3)(c) (c) In its invitation under par. (b), the department may specify a deadline date and a procedure for filing default claims. An invitation may indicate the amount of a prospective claimant’s apparent claim and may ask the prospective claimant to verify or correct that amount.

126.70(3)(d) (d) The department may initiate separate recovery proceedings for default claims that comply with sub. (2) but are filed after the deadline date under par. (c).

126.70(4) (4) Auditing and disallowing claims. The department shall audit each claim included in a recovery proceeding. The department shall disallow a claim if the department finds any of the following:

126.70(4)(a) (a) That the claim is false or not adequately documented.

126.70(4)(b) (b) That the claimant filed the claim more than 30 days after the claimant first learned of the contractor’s default, unless the department specifies a later claim-filing deadline under sub. (3) (c).

126.70(4)(c) (c) That the claimant, without any contractual obligation to do so, continued to deliver grain, milk, or vegetables to the defaulting contractor more than 10 days after the claimant first learned of the contractor’s default.

126.70(4)(d) (d) That the claimant failed to comply with claim-filing deadlines or procedures specified under sub. (3) (c).

126.70(4)(e) (e) That the person filing the claim is not an authorized claimant under sub. (1).

126.70(4)(f) (f) That the defaulting contractor paid the amount due by check, but the claimant failed to present the check for payment within 30 days of receipt.

126.70(4)(g) (g) That the claim relates to a payment that first became due, under a deferred payment contract for grain, more than 120 days after the grain was delivered to the defaulting grain dealer.

126.70(4)(gm) (gm) That the claim relates to a payment that first became due, under a deferred payment contract for milk, after the payment due date under s. 126.485 (4) (b).

126.70(4)(h) (h) That the claim relates to a payment that first became due, under a deferred payment contract for processing vegetables, after January 31 of any year for processing vegetables tendered or delivered to a vegetable contractor on or before December 31 of the preceding year.

126.70(4)(i) (i) That the claim relates to grain, milk, or vegetables that were never tendered to or received and accepted by the defaulting grain dealer, milk contractor, or vegetable contractor. This paragraph does not apply to unharvested acreage, as defined in s. 126.55 (17).