This week the Assembly Committee on Agriculture met for a public hearing on the following bills.
Assembly Bill 440 (AB 440), which I co-sponsored, relates to permits for the overweight transport of certain fluid milk products. This bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to issue annual or consecutive month permits for the transportation of fluid milk products in vehicle combinations that exceed general highway weight limitations. The bill also prohibits DOT from imposing different conditions for these permits for different fluid milk products.
Assembly Bill 349 (AB 349) relates to limitations on ownership of agricultural or forestry land in this state by foreign persons. This bill generally prohibits certain foreign persons from acquiring more than 50 acres of agricultural or forestry land in this state, changes enforcement authority regarding foreign ownership of agricultural or forestry land from the attorney general to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and makes various other changes to state laws restricting ownership of agricultural or forestry land by foreign persons.
Testimony on Transition to Grass Pilot Program
During the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, I testified on Assembly Bill 655 (AB 655), which creates a transition to a grass pilot program and provides an appropriation. I authored this bill with Senator Jesse James (R-Altoona) after initially working on this issue during the budget cycle this session. We authored this bill after being approached by stakeholders and local conservation groups that expressed the need for a grazing grant program in Wisconsin.
Two sessions ago, I chaired the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality with Rep. Shankland. We held hearings throughout Wisconsin and heard from dairy business leaders, conservation groups, and local family farmers. From these hearings, it was made clear that farmers want to be the leaders in clean water and conservation efforts, but they need the tools and resources to lead in this important effort.
Our task force has led on legislation that was signed into law that has helped farmers implement practices beneficial to water quality, conservation, and their bottom line. The Producer-led Watershed Protection Grant Program, Nitrate Optimization Program, and Cover Crop Insurance Rebate Program have become successful conservation programs.
AB 655 further expands on the progress made from our work on the Water Quality Task Force by creating a grazing pilot program. The program administered by the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection provides farmers with grants to transition fields and pastures to grazing areas.
The Transition to Grass pilot program will provide grants to farmers for the following purposes:
1. Assist with establishing perennial forages for rotational grazing of livestock raised in a grass-based managed grazing system.
2. Provide assistance to establish harvestable continuous cover in marginal areas that can produce supplemental feed for livestock that is raised in a grass-based managed grazing system.
3. Provide a farmer with incentive payments during the first three years of the farmer’s transition to grass-based managed grazing systems.
4. Assist a farmer with paying for grass-based managed grazing system infrastructure needs, including fencing, watering, and other livestock management infrastructure.
5. Technical assistance to develop grazing plans, including determining field and paddock layout, infrastructure setup, seed selection, and establishment of rotational grazing patterns.
6. Assistance in navigating grass-based grazing system and grass-fed livestock research and market development initiatives, and market opportunities.
7. Best practices for meeting consumer demand for grass-fed livestock products.
8. Assistance in fostering innovation in and expanding farm and agribusiness strategies in grass-based grazing system and grass-fed livestock practices.
I am proud of the broad coalition of industry stakeholders we have established to support our proposal including: The Wisconsin Agri-Business Association, Clean Wisconsin, Dairy Business Association, the Nature Conservancy, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, Wisconsin Farm Bureau, Wisconsin Farmers Union and Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association.
Happy Thanksgiving
I want to wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy the holiday weekend with family and friends! I am genuinely thankful to have the honor of serving as your State Representative for the 51st Assembly District. It is truly an honor to represent the citizens of the 51st Assembly District.
As we enjoy our Thanksgiving meals, let us remember the farmers, truck drivers, grocery store workers, and all those who have worked hard to bring food to our tables. Their efforts often go unnoticed, but they are the backbone of our society. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve you and for the progress we have made together. I am grateful for our community, our state, and our nation. But most importantly, I am thankful for you, the people who make our community a wonderful place to live. May this Thanksgiving bring you joy and peace with loved ones.
— Rep. Todd Novak represents Wisconsin’s 51st Assembly District. He can be reached at 608-237-9151 or email rep.novak@legis.wisconsin.gov.
