WI AB805

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection must administer a reimbursement program for corn farmers who purchase seed coating treatments that discourage sandhill cranes from consuming planted corn seed

Reimbursements cover up to 50% of actual seed coating costs, capped at $6,250 per farm per planting season

Eligible applicants must plant corn on farms that produced at least $6,000 in gross farm revenues in the prior taxable year, with applications accepted March 1 through June 15 annually

Priority for reimbursements goes to farmers with federal sandhill crane depredation permits, those with prior program participation or seed coating purchases, and those farming land vulnerable to crane depredation

Appropriates $1,875,000 per fiscal year for reimbursements plus $85,000 annually for one new staff position to administer the program