As the fall legislative session begins, DBA continues to advocate for several pending proposals. The session runs through November and will resume in January before adjourning in April/May.

Some of the bills DBA is watching: 

Assembly Bill 314 establishes an agricultural exports program at the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). The bill allocates $5 million over five years with the lofty goal of increasing all ag exports by 25 percent. The bill has passed in the Senate and the Joint Committee on Finance has approved a funding structure.

Senate Bills, 81, 82 and 83 would put Wisconsin on record opposing the misleading and unfair labeling of plant-based imitation dairy, milk and meat products. All three bills have passed in the Assembly. 

Assembly Bill 54/Senate Bill 68 drops the required participation in the Farmland Preservation Program from 15 years to 10, and the credit would increase by $2.50-$5 per acre, depending on the category of land. These credits have not been adjusted since 2009. The bills have passed committee in each house.

Randy Romanski was confirmed as DATCP secretary. Romanski, who has served as secretary-nominee since June 2020, was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. DBA President Amy Penterman said: “Secretary Romanksi has built a longstanding productive relationship with our dairy community. Over the past 18 months, especially, he has shown steady leadership through some of the biggest challenges our farmers and processors have ever faced due to the pandemic.”