Statutory Councils

The following councils are created by statute and attached to DATCP for administrative purposes:

• Agricultural Producer Security Council
• Fertilizer Research Council
• Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council

The duties, authority and membership of these councils are prescribed by statute (see below). Before taking office, each member of a statutory council must take and file an oath of office. Members are not entitled to compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement of costs and expenses.

DATCP provides administrative support to these statutory councils. The assigned DATCP division coordinates the council agenda, prepares open meeting notices, takes minutes of meetings, prepares meeting materials, makes presentations, and provides other staff services.

Agricultural Producer Security Council

Description

• The Agricultural Producer Security Council is a statutory council created under s. 15.137(1), Stats.
• The Council advises DATCP on the administration of the agricultural producer security program under ch. 126, Stats.
• The Council meets as often as DATCP deems necessary, but at least once annually.
• DATCP must inform the Council of current balances in the agricultural producer security fund, and must consult the Council before modifying any license fee, license surcharge or fund assessment under the program.
• DATCP also consults with the Council before acquiring backup security for the producer security fund.

Assigned Division

The Trade and Consumer Protection Division administers the agricultural producer security program, and provides administrative support to the Council.

Membership

The Council consists of 10 members appointed by the DATCP Secretary for 3-year terms. The Secretary must appoint members as follows (the Secretary appoints one of two persons nominated by each organization):

• One person representing the Farmers’ Educational and Cooperative Union of America, Wisconsin Division.
• One person representing the Midwest Food Processors Association, Inc.
• One person representing the National Farmers Organization, Inc.
• One person representing the Wisconsin Agri-Service Association, Inc.
• One person representing the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.
• One person representing both the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Inc., and the Wisconsin Soybean Association, Inc.
• One person representing the Wisconsin Dairy Products Association, Inc.
• One person representing the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.
• One person representing the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives.
• One person representing the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Inc.

For more information on the council or a list of current members, contact Kevin LeRoy, 608-224-2928 or Kevin.leroy@wisconsin.gov.

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Fertilizer Research Council

Description

• The Fertilizer Research Council is a statutory council created under s. 15.137(5), Stats.
• The Fertilizer Research Council recommends research projects to be conducted with fertilizer research funds collected under s. 94.64, Stats. (See s. 94.64(8m), Stats.).
• Funds are collected by the DATCP's Agricultural Resource Management Division, in the form of tonnage fees on fertilizer sales.
• Funds are forwarded to the University of Wisconsin to be used for research on soil management, soil fertility, plant nutrition problems, groundwater problems that may be related to fertilizer usage, and other purposes designated by statute, subject to the recommendations of the Fertilizer Research Council.

Assigned Division

The Agricultural Resource Management Division provides administrative support to the council.

Membership

• The Fertilizer Research Council has seven voting members and three nonvoting members.
• The DATCP Secretary, the DNR Secretary and the Dean of the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are non-voting members.
• The following voting members are appointed for 3-year terms (no voting member may serve more than two consecutive 3-year terms):

• Three industry representativesselected from a list of candidates provided by the fertilizer industry. These members are jointly appointed by the DATCP Secretary and the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
• Three farmerswho are crop producers. These members are jointly appointed by the DATCP Secretary and the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.
• One water quality expertappointed by the DNR Secretary.

Website: http://www.soils.wisc.edu/frc/

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Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council

Description

• The Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council is a statutory council created under s. 15.137(2), Stats.
• The mission of the Council is to attract, develop and retain the superior human resources required to grow Wisconsin’s agriculture, agricultural industry, food, and natural resource systems.
• As provided in s. 93.33(2), Stats., in the fields of agriculture, food, and natural resources, the Council will seek to increase the hiring and retention of well-qualified employees, promote the coordination of educational systems to develop, train, and retrain employees, develop support for employment, and recommend policies to improve the efficiency of agricultural education across educational systems.

Assigned Division

The Division of Agricultural Development, Farm and Rural Services Bureau, provides administrative support to the Council.

Membership

• The Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council consists of 34 voting members.
• Members are appointed for three-year terms.
• Members may not serve more than two consecutive terms.

Members:

• The DATCP Secretary or their designee
• The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or their designee
• The Secretary of Workforce Development or their designee
• The Secretary of Commerce or their designee
• The Secretary of Natural Resources or their designee
• The President of the University of Wisconsin System or their designee
• The Director of the Wisconsin Technical College System or their designee
• The Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Extension or their designee
• A member chosen jointly by the Dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Sciences, and Agriculture of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and the Dean of the College of Natural Resources of the University of Wisconsin-Steven’s Point
• A technical college district director
• A technical college dean with authority over agricultural programs
• The chairpersons of one senate standing committee and one assembly standing committee concerned with education
• The chairpersons of one senate standing committee and one assembly standing committee concerned with agriculture
• A representative of the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators
• Two representatives of general agriculture
• Two representatives of agribusiness
• A representative of environmental stewardship interests
• A representative of businesses related to natural resources
• A representative of businesses related to plant agriculture
• A representative of landscaping, golf course, greenhouse, floral and related businesses
• A representative of food product and food processing businesses
• A representative of businesses related to animal agriculture
• A representative of businesses related to renewable energy
• A representative of agricultural communication interests
• A representative of businesses providing engineering, mechanical, electronic, and power services related to agriculture
• A representative of the Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
• A teacher who teaches classes in science, vocational technology, business, math, or a similar field
• A school guidance counselor
• A school board member
• A school district administrator

For more information on the Agricultural Education and Workforce Development Council, contact Jack Ourada, 608-224-5128, jack.ourada@wisconsin.gov.

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