Ag Board to meet

in Madison Nov. 9

The meeting will be in the board room at DATCP headquarters, 2811 Agriculture Drive in Madison.

In addition to its scheduled discussion items, the board will set aside a part of its agenda to hear from the public. People who want to bring their concerns to the board may do so at 9:05 a.m., at the beginning of the board's meeting. Each speaker is limited to five minutes or less and must fill out and submit an appearance card.

The board's agenda includes a hearing draft rule for animal health and disease control and also for humane officer training. The scheduled agenda also includes a hearing draft for a rule on voluntary certification of firewood dealers and a hearing draft rule for county and district fairs.

Board members will hear a report on geographic information systems (GIS) and a report from the Bureau of Information Systems. In the afternoon the board is scheduled to hear a report from the Bureau of Laboratory Services and one on the DATCP grazing program.

There will also be reports on the Specialty Crop Block grant program and on the Americorps Farm to School program. At each meeting the board agenda includes time to get a report from Secretary Ben Brancel, Wisconsin's top agricultural statistician Bob Battaglia and from each board member in attendance.