When the state budget was signed into law, Wisconsin agriculture groups called it “a good budget for farmers.” And while that was a big project in the state government and for the ag industry, the work continues on.
Representative Travis Tranel chairs the Assembly Agriculture Committee. In his monthly conversation with Mid-West Farm Report, he says the committee is focused on developing more policy to positively impact Wisconsin agriculture. This includes protecting farmland from foreign investments.
“One of the biggest ones is the prohibiting of foreign adversaries from acquiring agricultural or forestry land,” he says. “Under current law, we allow foreign land ownership up to about 600 acres. The committee is considering suggesting that we significantly dial that back.”
Another item that Tranel’s office is looking into is how renewable energy plays into agriculture.
“What we do in the summer months… you do all that behind-the-scenes research, have all the meetings with all the key stakeholders, and see if you can come up with a piece of legislation that you feel comfortable with trying to advance come fall.”
Tranel is also celebrating the passage of the Agricultural Road Improvement Program, which will give $150 million in grants to fix roads essential to the farm and forestry industry. He says that the Department of Transportation is planning to have those dollars available within six months.
See more on the ARIP: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2023/06/21/evers-signs-farm-road-improvement-bill/
Alcohol Modernization Act
Meanwhile, the Alcohol Modernization Act passed the Assembly. The bill includes some more stringent rules for agricultural venues, such as wedding barns. It would require those venues to have liquor licenses — which may require special zoning — or else get a permit that would only allow six events a year. WATA is asking for those provisions to be removed.
Tranel supported the legislation as written. The bill is now in the Senate.
“I would acknowledge that some people are trying to take advantage of what used to be wedding barns… they’ve really become more like convention centers or wedding halls,” he says. “If you’re a farmer out there and you have a barn that you want to host a few events in a year, nothing has changed for you.”
See recent coverage on the provisions: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2023/07/02/wedding-barn-provisions-an-issue-for-wata/
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