DATCP Board Updated on Many Current Issues

By Joan Sanstadt News Editor
Thursday, September 18, 2008 7:35 AM CDT

Members of the citizen board of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Protection (DATCP) had a lot on their minds as they met in Madison on Sept. 10.

Buying local foods was emphasized by members who are promoting these purchases not only for their own families but also for their schools and communities.

Mike Krutza called attention to the ongoing financial crises on Wall Street. “In the past 10 years, there’s been one trillion dollars in federal bailouts n what’s going on? Debts will take away the choices we have in Social Security and health care,” he warned.

The fate of the bill in Congress dealing with the national rail freight issue is difficult to predict, Brian Rude said. “With Congress virtually shut down it is not likely to see action in either house. There is talk of an omnibus bill after the election,” he added.

Rude said he is hopeful, with Senator Herb Kohl’s help, that $50 billion in funding for modernization of locks and dams on the Mississippi River will get Congressional approval.

Board Chair Mike Dummer said he is “trying to find out how to get the livestock industry ready to deal with COOL (Country of Origin Labeling). An affidavit has been developed that I think will be accepted industry-wide. As livestock producers are asked to sign it, they need to remember it is something their industry wanted.”

DATCP Secretary Rod Nilsestuen highlighted the good news about increasing ag exports. “There’s an increase of 13 percent again in the last six months. Dairy exports are up 59 percent over the first half of last year,” he said.

Nilsestuen noted the governor had recently devoted four days to “a series of grazing announcements.”

He also acknowledged looming financial challenges in ag and the DATCP by saying, “Whenever the economy gets soft the demands on government for services goes up.”

Deer regulations

Responding to a query from board members, Dr. Bob Ehlenfeldt, the state veterinarian, said “frankly there is a bit of confusion about the proposed rule. That’s because our rule is supposed to be in line with the federal rule n but the feds are out of sync in a huge number of their own rules. These are being reviewed.

“We’re trying to bring ours in line with the federal current rule and anticipate the future n but that is different than what we currently have,” he added.

What makes it even more difficult is that the “DATCP doesn’t have the current revision (of the federal rule) but the industry does. With our draft new version, we qualify with the current herd accreditation we have. But I’m not sure when the legislature may take it up. We don’t have a solid answer yet from USDA as to which version we should be talking about to get in line with USDA. We don’t have enough information yet,” he emphasized.

“The USDA is out of sync with its own rules. Brucellosis rule is in place but and the TB rule frankly doesn’t look like it impacts hardly any herds n we came up with six herds out of 650,” Ehlenfeldt said.

Dummer asked, “Could we go to 60 days with TB (testing)?”

Ehlenfeldt’s response was, “We could, but there is still some concern.” He explained in the late ‘90s TB had been found in some elk herds but white tail deer were not tested for TB when they were transferred to the DATCP. “There is always a nagging question n although we haven’t found any TB (in white tail deer) yet.”

Board attorney Jim Matson said the rule was “in the legislature for legislative review.”

“It’s confusing to all of us,” Ehlenfeldt concluded.

Public comment

Jeff Lyon, Wisconsin Farm Bureau appeared before the board to present the latest information on the challenge to the state’s Right to Farm law. Namely, that Bayfield County Circuit Court Judge John Anderson had awarded cranberry grower William Zawistowski $549,000 to pay his legal fees.

The case against the grower represented a threat to the Right to Farm law, which protects farmers from frivolous lawsuits.

“Upholding the Right to Farm law is important if we are to grow Wisconsin agriculture,” Lyon said.

Board member Richard Cates told Lyon, “Your persistence is laudable.” Asked if the defendants (out of state landowners) might file another lawsuit, Lyon said “there is some speculation about that n but it could mean more legal fees they would have to pay.”

Reports

State Statistician Bob Battaglia, in his monthly report, said there had been 50,000 fewer acres of corn planted but 50,000 more acres of soybeans were planted than had been estimated in June.

Milk production totaled 2.10 billion pounds in July, up 7 million pounds over July of 2007 n but there are now 4,000 more cows.

The cranberry crop has had good growing condition and the forecast is for 3.86 million barrels. While the 2008 apple crop is estimated to be 55 million pounds, 7 percent below last year, the quality is good, Battaglia said.

Other reports included:

* Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative by DATCP Grazing Specialist Laura Paine, NRCS Grazing Specialist Brian Pillsbury and Paul Onan, Amherst Junction farmer and chair of the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). “Wisconsin is the national leader in grazing,” they agreed. GLCI has been operating since 1999, mainly as a grant program and has served 465 farmers. Dick Cates said 20 members of his Beginning Farmer Program at UW-CALS are in the grazing area.

* Received an update on the Emerald Ash Borer from Melody Walker in the Agricultural Resource Management Division and from Jane Cummings Carlson, a DNR staff person. “Our first find was about 20 to 25 dead or dying ash trees on either side of a paved driveway near Newburg. We don’t really know how it got there,” Walker said. Public meetings are being held and there are quarantines in effect for nurseries as well as wood and lumber businesses.

* Approved a hearing draft rule related to consumer product safety. DATCP last updated its consumer product safety rules eight years ago.

* Heard a detailed report from the international trade team in the Agricultural Development Division. The team, which also works with the Department of Commerce, works with Wisconsin producers and companies who want to export their goods and services. Export revenues account for 20 percent of farm income.

Upcoming

In other business, the board approved a resolution honoring Rep. Barbara Gronemus (D-Whitehall) for her work “as a tireless leader on agricultural and rural issues.” Gronemus, who is retiring at the end of the year, was elected in 1982 and was the first woman to chair the Assembly Committee on Agriculture.

At its Nov. 12 meeting in Madison, the board will likely interact with a panel dealing with biofuels and commodity prices, food and fuel issues, and the use of corn and ethanol in the state. These are all topics board members had requested be placed on board agendas for input and discussion.

Immigration and the Green Industry are two other topics board members want to see on future meeting agendas.

The final meeting of 2008 will be on Dec. 10 in Madison.

Tentative meeting dates for 2009 are: Jan. 14, Feb. 11, April 1, May 13, June 10, Aug. 12, Sept. 9, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9. The May, June and September meetings will probably be scheduled at locations around the state although those have not yet been determined. The August meeting will be in Milwaukee during the Wisconsin State Fair. All other meetings are at DATCP Headquarters in Madison.

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