Section 93.51. Farmer assistance.

 

(1)   Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Farmer" has the meaning given in s. 93.50 (1) (d) .

(b) “Farming" has the meaning given in s. 102.04 (3) .

(2)   Assistance program.

(a) The department may provide consultation and assistance to distressed farmers, which may include but is not limited to providing employment and retraining counseling for farmers needing employment other than farming, operating a program in which volunteers advise or counsel farmers about financial matters and other concerns and operating a crisis hotline for farmers.

(b) The department may make grants to low-income farmers for the purpose of paying all or part of the tuition for a farmer who enrolls in a course on farm and business management techniques offered by a technical college.

(c) The department may promulgate rules necessary to implement this section.

(3)   Advisors.

(a) The department may select volunteers to provide advice and counseling services to distressed farmers. Advisors shall have expertise and experience in relevant areas of knowledge.

(b) The department shall provide any necessary training to advisors.

(c) Advisors shall be compensated for travel and other necessary expenses in amounts approved by the department.

(d) Advisors and the department shall keep confidential all information obtained in the process of providing advice or counseling. Any such information contained in a record is not subject to the right of public inspection and copying under s. 19.35 (1) . This paragraph does not apply to information relating to possible criminal misconduct.

1989 a. 31 ; 1991 a. 39 ; 1993 a. 399 ; 1997 a. 264 .