93.46 Agricultural diversification.
(1) The department shall establish an agricultural diversification program and shall do all of the following:
(a) Conduct market research and develop long-range plans to determine potential for the production and marketing of agricultural crops and livestock.
(b) Provide assistance to individuals and organizations on marketing strategies, agricultural product processing and other matters related to agricultural diversification.
(c) Coordinate the agricultural diversification program with technical assistance programs of other agencies.
(d) Promote and assist the development and use of industrial and commercial products from agricultural commodities and from the production of these commodities, including all of the following:
1. Alternative fuels, including fuels that are considered to be renewable fuels under the renewable fuel program under 42 USC 7545 (o).
2. Heat.
3. Electricity, including electricity that satisfies the requirements in s. 196.378 (2).
4. Marketable credits for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, as defined in s. 285.78 (1) (c), derived from appropriate management practices used in the production of the agricultural commodity.
(1e) The department shall promote and assist the development and use of the products identified in sub. (1) (d) 1. to 4. in cooperation with and with the assistance of the department of natural resources and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.
(1m)
(a) The department shall promote the development and growth of commercial aquaculture in this state by doing all of the following:
1. Providing advice, service and training to persons who are interested in the commercial aquaculture industry.
2. Coordinating the aquaculture activities of the department with the aquaculture activities of the department of natural resources and the University of Wisconsin System.
3. Conducting meetings on a quarterly basis between representatives of the department, the department of natural resources and the University of Wisconsin System to exchange information regarding the progress of their efforts to promote commercial aquaculture in this state.
(b) The department of natural resources shall assist persons in obtaining any license or approval required by any state or federal agency to conduct a commercial aquaculture operation.
(c) The University of Wisconsin System shall, in cooperation with the commercial aquaculture industry, conduct applied and on-site research, outreach activities and on-site demonstrations relating to commercial aquaculture in this state.
(2)
(a) The department shall make agricultural and forestry research and development grants. The department may provide grants to fund demonstration projects, feasibility analyses and applied research directed toward new or alternative technologies and practices that will stimulate agricultural and forestry development and economic activity.
(b) The department may not award a grant under this subsection unless the grant is for a project conducted in this state that has at least one of the following purposes:
1. Creation of jobs in the agricultural industry.
2. New capital investment and expansion in the agricultural industry.
3. Agricultural product market development and expansion.
4. Diversification and expansion of the production, processing and distribution of agricultural products.
4m. Diversification and expansion of the production, processing, and distribution of forestry products that are used to produce alternative fuels, heat, or electricity.
5. Commercial application of new technologies or practices related to agricultural products.
5m. Commercial application of new technologies or practices related to the production of alternative fuels, heat, or electricity from forestry products.
6. Increased use of surplus agricultural products.
7. Improvement of the competitive position of this state's agricultural industry.
8. Efficient use of farmland and other agricultural resources.
(c) The department may not fund any project under this subsection if the proposed length of the project exceeds 3 years. The total funding to a single project under this subsection may not exceed $50,000.
(dm) If the department receives an application under this subsection for a grant for a forestry-related project, analysis, or applied research, the department shall do all of the following:
1. Consult with the department of natural resources in evaluating the grant application.
2. If the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection awards the grant, require the grant recipient to coordinate its activities under the grant with any forestry-related programs identified by the department of natural resources in the consultation under subd. 1.
(e) The department may not make a grant under this subsection that exceeds 67 percent of project costs.
(4) The department may not make a grant under this section for an ethanol production facility on which construction begins after July 27, 2005, unless a competitive bidding process is used for the construction of the ethanol production facility.
History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 403, 414; 1995 a. 27 s. 9116 (5); 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 125; 2009 a. 401; 2011 a. 32.