Tom Tiffany, Representative of Wisconsin, has expressed concerns over Governor Tony Evers’ approach to increasing fees for farmers and related industries. Tiffany said on the social media platform X that Evers is circumventing the legislature to impose significant fee hikes, which he argues shifts the burden of mismanagement onto citizens.
“First, the Evers admin tried hiking fees on hunters and anglers,” said Tiffany. “Now, he’s targeting farmers, auction barns & livestock haulers, bypassing the Legislature to push fee hikes up to 1,700%. Democrats can’t manage a budget, so they shift the burden of their mismanagement onto you.”
According to a report by Wisconsin Public Radio in September 2025, Governor Evers’ administration, through the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), proposed substantial fee increases affecting auction barns, livestock truckers, and dealers. The proposal includes raising the Animal Market Class A license from $420 to $7,430 and increasing trucker registration from $60 to $370. This move has sparked backlash from farm groups.
AgPros reports that the DATCP plan would result in livestock-related fees rising by hundreds or even thousands of percent. For instance, late fees for Animal Market Class A licenses would increase from $84 to $1,486, while dealer licenses would rise from $200 to $1,960. Many within the agriculture sector have labeled these proposed hikes as unsustainable.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has noted that Wisconsin’s proposed livestock market fees would reach $7,500 for sale barns. This figure is significantly higher than those in neighboring states such as Minnesota ($300), Illinois ($200), and Iowa ($50), positioning Wisconsin as one of the most expensive states in the Midwest for livestock businesses.
Tiffany’s official biography indicates that he was born in 1957 and has been representing Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District since 2020. Before this role, he served in both the State Assembly and Senate. His background is in agricultural economics with a legislative agenda focused on rural development, natural resources, and conservative fiscal policies.
