Gov. Doyle: Governor Doyle Signs Bill to Provide Tax Credit to Help Dairy Farmers Modernize, Stay Competitive

Contact:
Jessica Erickson, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156

Also Signs Bill to Streamline Requirements
for Fish Farmers Reporting Fish Health

MADISON – At a bill signing ceremony at the Wisconsin
Federation of Cooperatives, Governor Jim Doyle signed into law today a bill
that provides a tax credit to help Wisconsin’s dairy farmers modernize, make
needed investments in their farms, and remain competitive.

“A healthy dairy industry is critical to a strong Wisconsin
economy,” Governor Doyle said. “Unfortunately, if modernization does not
occur, our dairy industry is in danger of losing its farmers and the
infrastructure needed to remain America’s Dairyland.”

The average age of Wisconsin’s dairy facilities dates to the
mid-1960s. And many of the state’s 16,500 dairy farmers need to upgrade
their facilities and equipment and take advantage of new technologies in
order to remain competitive and increase their dairy profitability.

Assembly Bill 283 provides a tax credit of up to $50,000 to
cover expenses of modernizing or expanding a dairy farm. The credit is
broad, and applies to improvements of any size, ranging from better fencing
to new milking facilities.

“This bill provides an economic incentive to Wisconsin dairy
producers – regardless of size – to modernize their dairy operations,”
Governor Doyle said. “And it ensures that our farm families stay in
dairying, and make the commitment and investment to modernize so they can
pass a modern and efficient facility on to the next generation of the
family.”

Governor Doyle thanked the many legislators who worked hard
to move the bill through the Legislature, including Representative Al Ott,
Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee; Senator Dale Schultz, Chair of
the Senate Agriculture Committee; Representative Bobbie Gronemus; and
Senators Jon Erpenbach and Dave Hansen.

The Governor also thanked Bill Oemichen, John Manske, and
the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives for their leadership and support,
and Mike Krutza, CEO of FCS Financial Services in Wausau, for generating the
idea and working with key legislators to get the bill drafted and passed.
Rod Nilsestuen, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer
Protection, was also instrumental in communicating the value of the bill to
the non-farming public, the Governor said.

Governor Doyle also signed Assembly Bill 284, cosponsored by
Representatives Al Ott and Bobbie Gronemus and Senators Sheila Harsdorf and
Dale Schultz. The bill streamlines requirements for fish farmers reporting
fish health. Since DATCP took over fish health responsibilities in 1997,
the Department has established a comprehensive and nationally recognized
program for fish health regulation.

“This bill will allow the Department to continue ensuring
fish health while removing the costly mandate of obtaining an annual fish
health certificate,” Governor Doyle said.