DATCP Year in Review

The following is a commentary by Secretary Randy Romanski of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Happy holidays to you and your families. For many, it is a season of joy and giving to end a productive and busy year. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is looking ahead to 2023 after a year of both addressing challenges and building on opportunities in 2022.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza was first detected in a commercial facility in March of this year, and our small but mighty team in the Division of Animal Health spent much of the year busy with the disease response. Staff also spent countless hours conducting outreach with impacted communities, sharing resources on biosecurity, and speaking directly with poultry producers.

Important Information:

Krentz - Wisconsin 275 Most Influential Business Leader Award

Kevin Krentz was elected president of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation in 2020 and assumed the position of interim chief administrative officer this summer. WFBF is the state’s largest general farm organization, composed of 61 county farm bureaus, and provides legislative representation, public relations, leadership development and services to farmers across the state. In addition, Krentz is president of Madison-based Rural Mutual Insurance Co., a property and casualty insurer of families, businesses and farms in Wisconsin. Krentz and his family own Krentz Family Dairy Inc., a 600-cow dairy farm near Berlin. He also serves on the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors.

Ballweg will lead ag committee

Sen. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, was once again selected to chair the Senate Agriculture and Tourism Committee by Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg.

“Last session, the Agriculture & Tourism Committee was able to pass important pieces of legislation including bills that would establish a comprehensive agriculture export plan and address nitrate contamination by making changes to the well compensation, producer-led watershed and county conservation grant programs,” says Ballweg. “These two major industries are the heart of the 14th Senate District. I look forward to advancing Wisconsin’s long-held traditions and promoting the exciting opportunities our state has to offer.”

Poultry Numbers Continue to Decline

Wisconsin egg production during November 2022 was 144 million eggs, down 3 percent from last month and down 20 percent from last year, according to the latest report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The average number of all layers on hand during November 2022 was 5.70 million, up slightly from last month but down 22 percent from the same month last year. Eggs per 100 layers for November were 2,519, down 3 percent from last month but up 2 percent from last November.

Looking at the total U.S. egg production numbers — that totaled 8.87 billion during November 2022, down 5 percent from last year. Production included 7.62 billion table eggs, and 1.25 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.16 billion were broiler-type and 92.1 million were egg-type.

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Upcoming Events:

January 24 - Wisconsin Ag Outlook Forum

January 19 - Chippewa Valley Ag Conference

February 3-4 - Corn Soy Expo

January 2023: UW Extension Agriculture Virtual Education Offerings

February 28 - Midwest Manure Summit

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