DATCP Board Tackles Upcoming Issues Agri-View: Capitol News

Registration for upcoming Working Lands workshops has exceeded the department's expectations.

This was said, according to Mike Dummer, chair of the citizen board for the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). That's a good sign that citizens are interested in the topic, he added.

Dummer told the board "we need deeper frost because that's what does our tillage for us - that and angle worms.

"I'm waiting to see the USDA's March 31 report on crop projections. That's because vegetable industry contracts are predicated significantly on the price of corn and/or on the rental value of corn acreage. Vegetable contracts always have to compete with the price of corn. There is a lot of action and reaction and this will not be a time for the faint of heart," Dummer predicted.

"We have '08 and '09 corn sold - we recognize prices are above the cost of production and there is no guarantee these prices will continue to be there. Five to 10 percent of the crop is sold and this is higher than normal. It's a sharp learning curve," he added.

Behind these remarks is the knowledge that ethanol plants are using an increasing amount of corn and this is driving up corn prices - and ultimately vegetable contract costs.

Following up an invitation for the board to visit Glendale Elementary School (only a few blocks from DATCP headquarters), board members had lunch with Glendale students and visited many of their classrooms. The school is very interested in having the DATCP "adopt" the school and expose its students to many of the activities and resources the DATCP provides. Board members seemed very interested in doing this but no decision was made.

However Board Member Shelly Mayer, a dairy farmer, cautioned that it is better "to teach a child to fish." Other members seemed to agree the school offered many opportunities for the department to provide learning opportunities without overdoing their role.

The board heard reports from:

State/federal Statistician Bob Battaglia, who warned "it may not be too long before California overtakes Wisconsin in cheese production." His remarks were based on cheddar and mozzarella cheese where California is showing considerable gains, although Wisconsin continues to lead in other cheeses.

Speaking during public appearance time was Jeff Lyon, Wisconsin Farm Bureau, who distributed copies of the Farm Bureau Task Force's report on the 2007 Farm Bill. Members of the task force included eight commodity groups, plus Dairy Business Association and Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin. Lyon said the report favored moving "more to a revenue assurance program - kind of like the present MILC."

Heard a report from Ray Anderson, the DATCP's Information Technology director. Like other agencies the department has an aging work force and it is important to document processes being used and make those processes part of the IT program. Getting the DATCP's licensing process computerized is a priority because the department licenses more than 100,000 individuals and businesses.

Heard a report from Janet Jenkins and Jim Rabbitt from the Consumer Protection Division. More than $15 million was returned to Wisconsin during 2006 - with the money going either directly to the people who lost it or to the state. The division is responsible for the newly created Office of Privacy Protection and is reaching out to people both in Spanish and Hmong languages to make them aware of services offered. Identity theft continues to be a major issue for the division. "If the rate continues, we'll be well over 1,000 ID thefts this year," Jenkins said.

Approved a rulemaking scope statement for proposed rules related to animal health. The rule may modify current rules related to animal markets, dealers and truckers, livestock premises registration, farm-raised deer and animal health fees.

Approved a scope statement relating to Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Program License Surcharges. This may lead to decreased fees to meet the statutory balance required for the fund.

Heard an update on Livestock Facility Siting from Michael Murray. Murray discussed local government actions, primarily related to county and town ordinances that had been submitted to the department for examination.

Heard an information report on the 2006 Pesticide Use Survey from Jeff Postle of the Agricultural Resource Management Division. The survey was conducted using personal interviews with farm operators who grow a variety of crops. The DATCP intends to conduct a major pesticide use survey every five to 10 years to determine long term trends in pesticide use in Wisconsin.

The board will next meet in Madison on March 21.

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