The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has announced that a fee holiday for pesticide and fertilizer licensees, and farmers purchasing fertilizer, will end on May 31, 2024. Pesticides and fertilizers that are registered or purchased on or after June 1, 2024 will include the applicable Agrichemical Cleanup Program (ACCP) fee. The program fund had previously been on a fee holiday since 2018.
The fee surcharge is based on the level of the ACCP fund on May 1 each year, when DATCP is required to review the program funds. When the fund remains above $1.5 million, DATCP may waive the fee. When the fund balance is at or below $1.5 million, the surcharge fees are reactivated to restore the fund balance to the level necessary to operate the ACCP, which helps pay for the costs of cleaning up agrichemical spills.
On May 1, 2024, the fund balance was $1,375,000. Due to the fund being below $1.5 million but above $750,000, half of the ACCP fee will be required on all pesticide products registered and fertilizers sold on or after June 1, 2024. When the surcharge is in effect, fertilizer and pesticide businesses pay the fee when they renew their licenses/product registration.
For more information about the ACCP fund and a complete list of fertilizer and pesticide fees, visit https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ACCPFundSurcharges.aspx.