By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is revising its proposal to increase livestock regulation fees after receiving hundreds of public comments.
In response to this feedback, the agency is now working with stakeholder groups, including Wisconsin Farmers Union (WFU), to reduce the proposed fees and make appropriate adjustments to the regulatory rules.
Earlier this fall, DATCP introduced updates to Wisconsin Administrative Rules ATCP 10 and 12, which oversee Animal Disease and Movement as well as Animal Markets, Dealers, and Truckers. The agency opened a public comment period that ended on October 15, giving farmers, agricultural organizations, and other stakeholders the chance to voice their concerns.
The initial proposal included steep increases, most notably a 1700% jump in the Animal Market Class A registration fee. Such a change would have placed significant financial pressure on sale barns, livestock dealers, and truckers, likely leading to higher costs for farmers already facing difficult economic conditions.
Comments submitted to DATCP highlighted the importance of protecting animal health while also calling for broader funding strategies that don’t rely solely on industry fees. Many WFU members participated, raising concerns about the economic impact while acknowledging that fee updates are overdue, as the current structure hasn’t changed since 2008.
“Many WFU members stepped up for this call to action and made their voice heard,” WFU Government Relations Director Michelle Ramirez-White said. “We applaud DATCP for their responsiveness to stakeholder feedback on this critical issue.”
DATCP will release the revised fee structure and rule adjustments publicly before they are brought to a future DATCP Board meeting.
Photo Credit: wisconsin-doa
Categories: Wisconsin, Government & Policy, Livestock