Click here to read the latest 'Capital Update' from the National Pork Producers Council.
Legislative Update - Jordan Lamb, DeWitt, Ross & Stevens
Governor Walker Signs Transportation Bills
Governor Walker signed several transportation bills on November 9th in Appleton at the Wisconsin Freight Summit. Included were Assembly Bills 252 and 254, which will benefit Wisconsin farmers.
2011 Wisconsin Act 52 (Assembly Bill 252, Rep. Petrowski / Sen. Lazich), extends the seasonal (fall harvest) truck weight limits for agricultural crops from November 30 until December 31.
2011 Wisconsin Act 54 (Assembly Bill 254, Rep. Petrowski / Sen. Lazich), extends the maximum length for vehicles operating without an overweight permit from 40 to 45 feet.
2011 Wisconsin Act 56 (Senate Bill 223, Rep. / Sen.) allows DOT to issue overweight permits for vehicles or vehicle combinations (vehicles) that have six or more axles and that are transporting certain agricultural products to a farm or from a field or farm to a storage or initial processing facility. The agricultural products that may be transported under the permit include fruit, vegetables, grain, and livestock, but exclude milk and raw forest products. The permit does not authorize the operation of any vehicle at a maximum gross weight in excess of 90,000 pounds.
2011 Wisconsin Act 58 (Assembly Bill 248, Rep. Petrowski / Sen. Harsdorf) allows DOT to issue annual or consecutive month permits for vehicles or vehicle combinations transporting loads of hay or straw that exceed the statutory height limitation of 13.5 feet.
“Making it easier to transport products will lower the cost of doing business in Wisconsin and make it easier for those in the private sector to create more jobs,” said Governor Walker in his press release. “The bipartisan support these pieces of legislation received shows that it is possible to work together on items that will help revitalize our state’s economy.”
Federal Rule Could Limit Farm Jobs for Minors
The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed rules that could greatly limit the work that employees under age 18 could do on a farm. The agricultural “hazardous occupations” orders under the Fair Labor Standards Act that bar young workers from certain tasks have not been updated since they were promulgated in 1970. The current proposed update provides that, unless they are working solely under the control of their parent or guardian, individuals under age 16 are prohibited from:
·Operating tractors or other power-driven equipment such as lawn mowers or other types of farm machinery including stationary equipment such as hoists;
·Working with non-castrated animals older than 6 months, sows with suckling pigs or cows with a newborn calf.
·Handling animals in a situation in which the animal’s behavior may be unpredictable, such as with giving shots, dehorning or breeding;
·Working inside any fruit, forage, or grain storage silo or bin;
·Handling pesticides;
·Harvesting and handling tobacco; and
·Working at heights over 6 feet above another elevation.
The National Pork Producers Council and American Farm Bureau Federation, along with many other state and national agricultural groups, are providing written comments in opposition to these proposed changes. Comments on these rules are being accepted until December 1, 2011 (which is an extension of the original November 1, 2011 deadline).
The proposed rule is available online by clicking here.
Vruwink Seeks Legislation Allowing Compensation for Cougar Damage
State Representative Amy Sue Vruwink (D-Milladore) is pursuing a legislative change that would allow wildlife damage caused by a cougar to be eligible to receive Wisconsin wildlife damage payments. Currently, wildlife damage payment are allowed for damage caused by deer, bear, geese, sand hill cranes, and wolves. This legislation, Assembly Bill 82, was approved unanimously by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee and is now available for consideration by the full Assembly.