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Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee makes some budgetary changes

The Wisconsin State Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee took action on some ag-related budget items on Tuesday.

The JFC approved $250,000 annually for a farmer-led watershed initiative to reduce nonpoint source pollution.  Farmers would be able to voluntarily work together to create watershed projects and implement conservation practices.  Grants will be available for up to $20,000 to provide at least 50 percent of project funds.

The Committee voted to maintain the Fertilizer Research Council in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.  The Governor had proposed eliminating the FRC which allocates certain fees for fertilizer research projects within the University of Wisconsin system.

The Joint Finance Committee also reversed a plan by the Governor to eliminate the Livestock Premise Registration position at DATCP.  The position is part of the cost of running the livestock premise registration program at the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium.

The Committee voted to increase funding for county conservation staff by $675,000 in each year of the biennial budget.  Governor Walker’s budget proposal cut $815,900 per year.

The legislative group did go-along with the Governor’s plan to transfer $1 million annually from DATCP’s Agricultural Chemical Cleanup Program (ACCP) to the Department of Natural Resources nonpoint account which is used to help pay for nonpoint staff, county conservation staff and cost-share funding for farmers.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau supported all of the Joint Finance Committee’s actions except the ACCP transfer.