AB 519

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer

Protection to establish a program for the Higher Educational Aids Board to

reimburse beginning farmers for their higher educational debt, except for debt that

is reimbursed, assumed, or paid for under any other public or private program. The

bill defines “beginning farmer” as an individual who satisfies all of the following: 1)

manages a farm or a component of a farm in this state as his or her primary

occupation; 2) has produced farm products for no more than ten consecutive years;

and 3) at the time he or she first applies for reimbursement, has an annual adjusted

gross income that is not more than 500 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.

To obtain reimbursement from HEAB, the bill requires an individual to apply

to the Beginning Farmer Higher Education Debt Council, which is created in

DATCP. The council consists of the secretary of agriculture, trade and consumer

protection or his or her designee and the dean and director of the UW-Madison

division of extension or his or her designee. The secretary appoints the following

other members for three-year terms: 1) an individual who administers or

participates or cooperates in programs of the Farm Service Agency of the U.S.

Department of Agriculture; 2) a representative of agricultural lenders; and 3) a

representative of higher education loan providers or servicers. The council must

advise HEAB on carrying out its duties and promulgating rules under the bill.

DATCP is required to provide administrative support to the council.

To be eligible for reimbursement, an individual must be a state resident who is

a beginning farmer as defined above. In addition, the individual must intend to

manage a farm or component of a farm in this state as his or her primary occupation

for at least five years after applying for reimbursement. Also, the individual must

have completed one of the following educational requirements: 1) graduated from an

accredited public or nonprofit institution with an associate or baccalaureate degree;

2) completed a farm and industry short course offered by the University of Wisconsin

System; or 3) obtained a technical college diploma or certificate in agriculture or a

field related to agriculture. The council must advise HEAB on whether an applicant

is eligible for reimbursement. If there are insufficient funds to make payments to

all eligible applicants, the council must advise HEAB to give priority to applicants

in specified categories, including financial need, likelihood to successfully continue

farming in this state, progress toward farm ownership, and use of sustainable best

practices.

The bill requires HEAB to enter into reimbursement agreements with eligible

individuals. An agreement must express an individual's commitment to pursue a

long-term career in farming in this state and to make a good faith effort to comply

with the requirements of the program. An individual must also agree to annually

submit documentation to HEAB showing that the individual continues to be a state

resident who is managing a farm or a component of a farm in this state as his or her