Good to Know Info

 Pearl Harbor Remembrance

Please take a moment to remember and give honor to those courageous service members who fought to defend and protect our nation at Pearl Harbor 76 years ago today, December 7, 1941.

Application Deadline for Black Bear Permits and Spring Wild Turkey Harvest Authorizations is Sunday, December 10, 2017

This is a reminder that applications for black bear hunting permits and spring wild turkey harvest authorizations need to be submitted by midnight on Sunday, December 10, 2017. Apply conveniently online through the GO WILD website or at an authorized sales location. Everything you need to know about the bear or wild turkey application process is here.

"Keep the Wreath Green"

As you pass by the fire departments in central Wisconsin look to see if they have hung a wreath with green Christmas lights. For each fire that involves a structure within their specific coverage area a green light bulb will be replaced with a red light bulb. 'Tis the season to be aware of the many possible fire hazards when burning candles, cooking or displaying your Christmas tree. Please practice fire safety and help your local fire fighters "keep the wreath green" this holiday season. 

In Progress Legislation

Wisconsin Hops Legislation

The last of my 3-H (Harvest for Hope, Hemp, and Hops) legislative bills is moving forward. We are currently in the process of circulating the piece of legislation for
co-sponsors.

This bill creates a “state-certified Wisconsin beer” label for all beer that contains a certain amount of Wisconsin grown hops in a given year. The incentive increases the use of state grown hops through the year 2020, starting at 20 percent by 2020 increasing to 60 percent before 2024 and 80 percent after 2024.

Here is a summary of the bill's requirements for certification:

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) must review a beer's formula or recipe, including the source of ingredients, and determine whether the beer is made with at least the following percentage, by weight, of its hops grown or manufactured in this state and at least the following percentage, by weight, of all of its other ingredients, excluding water, grown in this state: 1) 20 percent, for determinations made before January 1, 2020; 2) 60 percent, for determinations made on or after January 1, 2020, but before January 1, 2024; and 3) 80 percent, for determinations made on or after January 1, 2024. If DATCP determines that the applicable criteria are satisfied, DATCP must issue a certification for the beer as “state-certified Wisconsin beer.” This certification remains valid for as long as the beer's formula or recipe, including the source of ingredients, does not materially change, except that the certification expires on the dates on which the percentage requirement described above increases.

Under this bill, beer sold or offered for sale in this state may not display a label identifying it as “state-certified Wisconsin beer,” or contain confusingly similar wording, unless DATCP has issued such a certification for the beer and the certification is valid at the time the beer is sold or offered for sale in this state.