In 1997, Wis. Act 27 passed and the legislature directed the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to prescribe performance standards and prohibitions that farms in Wisconsin will need to meet. The legislature mandated that these performance standards must be designed to reduce non-point source pollution and improve water quality. Act 27 also directed the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) in conjunction with DNR to promulgate rules that prescribe technical standards and best management practices farmers must follow to meet the performance standards. In October 2002, the rules were promulgated into law. DNR administrative code NR 151 identifies the agricultural performance standards for Wisconsin and DATCP administrative code ATCP 50 sets the technical standards that farmers will need to follow to implement the performance standards.