Wisconsin Ag Connection - Mint, Cherry & Ginseng Producers to Vote on Marketing Orders

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Mint, Cherry & Ginseng Producers to Vote on Marketing Orders
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 02/13/2008

Wisconsin farmers who produce mint, cherries or ginseng will have the opportunity to vote for changes to their marketing orders beginning February 25. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture will mail all affected producers a ballot asking them to participate in a referendum to decide if proposed changes to their marketing order should be implemented.

DATCP conducted public hearings last summer to consider changes to Ch. ATCP 141, 148 and the repeal of ATCP 147, of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, were held around the state. At that time, the department did not receive any criticism over proposed changes. DATCP administers Wisconsin's agricultural marketing order program under Chapter 96, Stats. The agency may adopt marketing orders for Wisconsin agricultural commodities, with the approval of affected commodity producers.

Highlights of the proposed changes include:

Mint Producers - This rule repeals the current mint marketing order, and eliminates the producer assessments associated with that order. There may be some cost savings to individual mint producers, but the savings will be insignificant. Currently, there are only 14 mint producers in Wisconsin.

Cherry Producers - This rule repeals a current marketing order provision that requires an advisory referendum of cherry producers every 4 years, to determine whether they support continuation of the marketing order. The repeal will save some costs for the marketing board and affected producers. The savings for individual producers will not be significant.

Ginseng Producers - This rule requires ginseng marketing order assessments based on acres in production, rather than sales. Sales assessments are difficult to collect, because most buyers are outside the United States. This rule will charge assessments based on reported acres in production verified by aerial photography or other reliable means. Assessments based on acres in production will be more fair and reliable. Some individual assessments will go up, but others will go down. Overall assessments will increase, but there will not be a major financial impact on ginseng producers.

This rule repeals a current marketing order provision that requires an advisory referendum of ginseng producers every five years, to determine whether they support continuation of the marketing order. The repeal will save some costs for the marketing board and affected producers. The savings for individual producers will not be significant.

The ag department has also adopted marketing orders for cranberries, corn, milk, soybeans and potatoes.

Wisconsin farmers who produce mint, cherries or ginseng will receive a ballot, instructions and a postage-paid return envelop by mail starting the last week of February. The referendum will be conducted from February 25 through March 12.

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