Tressa Lacy, President of the Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, and her husband have a small herd of Red Angus cattle in Rio, Wisconsin. She recently voiced her concern for DATCP’s fee increase proposal at the first public hearing, and urges others to do the same.
Lacy fears the increased fees would have a profound impact on producers. She describes an impact on both small and large-scale producers. Her concern stretches beyond the beef industry. “I have the fear, and others do too in the industry, that this is just the first program that’s being looked at to be user-funded. It’s going to shift into dairy and grain,” Lacy says.
Lacy was not familiar with the public hearing process, but, after participating, found it to be relatively simple and time efficient. She explains that each speaker at the hearings must register upon arrival. This registration ensures a proper head count of participants. After readings of the proposal and the process itself, comments were given by those who were participating. The first public hearing was about an hour in length.
At the first hearing, representatives from Farm Bureau, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association and Equity Livestock were present. “I know that we’re all working really hard to make sure that people who need to be informed about these upcoming proposed fee increases are informed,” Lacy says.
Attend A Public Hearing
Prairie Oaks State Office Building, Room 106, 2811 Agriculture Dr., Madison, WI 53708
- Tuesday, Sept. 16 – 1:00 P.M.
- Wednesday, Sept. 17 – 1:00 P.M.
Register Online For Virtual Access:
Phone access information can be provided.
Submit Written Comments By Oct. 15:
Mail: Angela Fisher, DATCP, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708
Email: [email protected]
DATCP has proposed changes to ATCP 10 and ATCP 12. The changes would increase fees for livestock auction markets, dealers and truckers. The public comment period started on September 11. The fees bring revenue to support services, such as animal health administration, which is currently operating at a deficit.
