AB 54

This bill requires a person who plants five or more acres of potatoes in a year

to use only seed potatoes that are certified by the College of Agricultural and Life

Sciences of the University of Wisconsin-Madison under existing rules promulgated

by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, or by an

equivalent program in another state. The bill allows DATCP to waive the

certification requirement if there are not enough certified seed potatoes reasonably

available to growers. The bill also requires a person who grows five or more acres

of potatoes in a year to keep certain records of each field of seed potatoes planted

during a growing season.

A person who plants seed potatoes in violation of the certification requirements

under the bill is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $150, plus $150 for each acre

planted in violation. A person who violates the records-retention or inspection

requirements under the bill is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $200.