371


                       RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
     EXECUTIVE BRANCH, WISCONSIN STATE GOVERNMENT

  What has the state government of Wisconsin achieved in the last 2 years?
While other sections
of this book explain what the government does, this section gives the state
agencies the opportu-
nity to inform the citizens of what they have accomplished toward carrying
out their goals.

                               Functional Area: Commerce

  The commerce function of the state government comprises the promotion of
economic devel-
opment and the regulation of commercial transactions, utilities, and trades
and professions in
order to protect the consumer.
  During 1983 and 1984, the DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, TRADE AND CON-
SUMER PROTECTION revised and updated several chapters of the Wisconsin Administrative
Code: AG 32 (Retail Food Establishments), revised AG 39 (Bakeries and Confectionaries),
re-
vised AG 85 (Butter Grades and Labeling), developed a new standard of identity
for baby Swiss
cheese which will create a new AG 89, and began a major revision of AG 107
(Sampling and
Testing of Milk and Cream).
   State meat inspection regulations were strengthened in areas of humane
handling of animals,
condemnation of abnormal animals and disposal of meat unfit for food purposes.
U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture review teams reported that the state meat inspection
program was accepta-
ble on 98.6% of all items reviewed during the 1983-84 period.
   A major goal was achieved when Wisconsin was declared Brucellosis-free
by the USDA. AG
 10.37 of the code was adopted, allowing for a voluntary classification of
cattle herds for para-
 tuberculosis status (Johne's Disease) and an achievable documented free
status. A swine
 pseudorabies control, eradication and indemnification program was developed
in Section 95.27
 of the statutes.
   During 1983, the Plant Industry Division was reorganized and renamed the
Agricultural Re-
 source Management Division. Previous bureaus of plant protection and regulatory
services were
 combined and renamed as the Bureau of Plant Industry. The Land Resources
Unit, which had
 been attached to the secretary's office, was transferred to the new division
and raised to bureau
 status to include farmland preservation, soil and water conservation, animal
waste management
 and environmental assessment programs. AG 160 implemented a new statewide
erosion control
 program and AG 165 established procedures for the Farmers Fund, which provides
grants to
 farmers to prevent water pollution from animal waste sources. Both programs
will be adminis-
 tered by county land conservation departments and will require county plans.
   Under Chapter 96 of the statutes (Agricultural Marketing Act), marketing
orders have been
 established for milk, corn, soybeans, cranberries, mint and red tart cherries.
AG 151 was imple-
 mented for quality control of Wisconsin grown potatoes. The department made
a major thrust
 in developing opportunities and promoting Wisconsin agricultural products
in Asia, the Carib-
 bean basin, South America and other key international markets.
   In calendar years 1983 and 1984, the STATE FAIR PARK BOARD continued to
achieve its
 statutory goals of providing year-round entertainment and services to the
people of Wisconsin
 while remaining self-supporting and using no tax dollars.
   Toward this end, State Fair Park rents its facilities to independent off-season
event promoters.
 The number of events and event days (number of days an event runs) increases
each year. In
 fiscal year 1982-83, there were 144 events lasting 859 event days (there
can be as many as 5 events
 using State Fair Park buildings on any given weekend). In fiscal year 1983-84,
there were 155
 events and 908 event days.
   Attendance at off-season events surpassed fair attendance for the first
time in fiscal 1981-82,
 and this trend continued in the last 2 years. In fiscal year 1982-83, non-fair
event attendance was
 1,106,026 vs. 1982 Fair attendance of 881,350, and in fiscal year 1983-84,
those figures were
 1,043,375 vs. 1983 Fair attendance of 893,947.
   Annual gross income for State Fair Park has increased as dramatically
as the number of
 events. In fiscal year 1982-83, the gross income was $6,726,618, and in
fiscal year 1983-84, it