Bill > SB775

This bill establishes a sandhill crane damage reimbursement program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to help corn farmers protect their crops from crane-related damage. The program will reimburse eligible farmers up to 50 percent of the cost of seed coating (a nonlethal treatment designed to deter sandhill cranes from eating corn seed), with a maximum reimbursement of $6,250 per farm per year. To qualify, farmers must operate a farm that generated at least $6,000 in gross revenues the previous year and apply between March 1 and June 15 for seed coating purchases made since November 1 of the prior year. The bill prioritizes reimbursements first to farmers who previously received federal crane depredation permits, then to those who received reimbursements or purchased seed coating in the past three years, and next to farms in areas vulnerable to crane damage. The department will create an annual report detailing the program's financial and reimbursement details and is authorized to create rules for implementing the program. The bill also allocates $1,875,000 for the program and increases department staffing by one full-time position to administer the reimbursement program, with the act taking effect four months after publication.

Budget and Finance

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb775