The Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports was first proposed by Governor Evers in his 2021-23 budget. In December 2021, the Governor signed subsequent legislation (Assembly Bill 314, now 2021 Wisconsin Act 92) which invests up to five million dollars over five years to increase exports of Wisconsin agricultural goods. In collaboration with the Wisconsin Economic Development Cooperation (WEDC), the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) submitted a strategic five-year plan for the funding, named the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports, to the Wisconsin Legislature on December 31, 2021.
This initiative aims to boost the export of dairy, meat, crop, and other agricultural products by 25 percent by June 2026 and allows DATCP to have flexibility to respond and react to changing market conditions. Planned activities include:
Enhancing trade promotion activities by expanding current opportunities based on Wisconsin priorities.
Creating an Export Expansion Grant Program to foster innovation in exporting.
Designating funds solely for Wisconsin agribusinesses in WEDC's International Market Access Grant (IMAG) program, which provides provides assistance to businesses to further their exporting goals.
Expanding Wisconsin agribusiness eligibility for WEDC's ExporTech™ scholarships, which helps Wisconsin companies learn export strategies, best practices, and the mechanics of exporting.
For more information on the WIAE, sign up for DATCP email updates.
Funding Opportunities
Note: The 2022 grant recipients were announced in January 2023. Access the full release here.
This grant aims to accelerate the growth of Wisconsin dairy, meat, and crop product exports.
Note: The 2022 IMAG recipients were announced in June 2022. Access the full release here.
Coordinated by WEDC, IMAGs provide funding to support a company’s specific export development and deployment strategy. The WIAE expands WEDC’s existing IMAG program by designating funds solely for agribusinesses.
Trade Promotion Activities
As part of the WIAE, the IABC will be hosting several trade promotion activities including trade shows, oubound buyers missions, and inbound buyers missions. For a full list of trade promotion activities, please visit the IABC Calendar of Events.
Wisconsin Agricultural Export Advisory Council (WAXC)
This council will help guide the initiatives created through the WIAE and includes international trade experts from WEDC and DATCP, state legislators, and agriculture organizations and agribusinesses representing crop, dairy, and meat products. The council will meet at least twice per year. These meetings are open to the public, and are expected to have virtual attendance options.
WAXC Charter
WAXC Council Member Biographies
Upcoming Council Meetings:
March 6, 2024
Upcoming WAXC Webinars:
No upcoming WAXC webinars are scheduled at this time.
Previous Council Meetings and Webinars:
Wisconsin Agricultural Export Webinar - January 17, 2024, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Topic: Growing Exports and Ensuring Payments through Credit Terms and Insurance
Materials: 1/17 Presentation Slides | EXIM Presentation: Solutions to Support
Agricultural Exports
M3 Presentation: The Basics: Identifying and Transferring
Risk for People and Products
Wisconsin Agricultural Export Webinar - November 15, 2023, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 11/15 Presentation Slides | Presentation: Agricultural Roads Improvement Program
Webinar note: ESG (Environmental, Sustainability and Governance) reporting and verification are rapidly becoming a necessity across a broad range of industries and sizes of companies. Large corporations, as well as small and mid-size enterprises around the world, are requiring their suppliers and their supply chain sources to provide reporting on—and verification of—their ESG standards and practices. The information provided by the SEDEX company during the Nov. 15, 2023 Wisconsin Agricultural Export Advisory Council informational webinar is an example of a service provider that offers a platform to vet your suppliers and to provide information to current and prospective business customers information on your company’s ESG efforts and compliance with applicable standards. Please note that, as a Wisconsin state agency, DATCP is not able to recommend any specific goods or services company. SEDEX’s participation in the webinar presentation was for informational purposes only.
Council Meeting - September 6, 2023, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 9/16 Presentation Slides | 9/16 WAXC Meeting Agenda | 3/29 WAXC Meeting Minutes | Follow on Instagram: Fork and the Road (Aqilah Al Akeelah)
Wisconsin Agricultural Export Webinar - August 16, 2023, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 8/16 Presentation Slides | ExporTech Flyer | ExporTech Virtual Sessions Flyer | ExporTech Results Summary
Council Meeting - March 29, 2023, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 3/29 Presentation Slides | 3/29 WAXC Meeting Agenda | 9/23 WAXC Meeting Minutes
EU Food Labeling Information | 2022 IABC-WI Export Highlights
Wisconsin Agricultural Export Webinar - February 15, 2023 (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 2/15 Presentation Slides
Webinar: Food Export Branded Program and Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Seaway - January 11, 2023 (Meeting Recording)
Materials: Agricultural Exports Presentation | Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Presentation | Food Export's Presentation
Wisconsin Export Webinar - November 16, 2022. 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 11/16 Presentation Slides
Council Meeting - September 23, 2022, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 9/23 Presentation Slides | 9/23 WAXC Meeting Agenda | 5/4 WAXC Meeting Minutes
Interim Meeting: Freight & Logistics Recap | Interim Meeting: Export Statistics Recap
13.10 WIAE Funding Request | 2022 Q2 IABC-WI Export Highlights | 2021 IABC-WI Export Highlights
WIAE Trade Promotion Activities | WEDC Trade Ventures | Export Expansion Grant Information
Agricultural Exporting Resources | WEDC IMAG Grants Information | WEDC ExporTech Information
Interim Meeting on Export Metrics - August 17, 2022, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 8/17 Presentation Slides | 8/17 Agenda | 8/17 Meeting Summary | YTD Q2 2022 Export Highlights
Interim Meeting on Freight and Logistics - July 20, 2022, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Council Meeting - May 4, 2022, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 5/4 Presentation Slides
Announcements
September 29, 2023: DATCP to Host International Exporters and Importers at 2023 World Dairy Expo
May 5, 2023: Wisconsin Food Companies Encouraged to Participate in DATCP's Midwest Buyers Mission
March 2, 2023: Wisconsin Food, Forestry and Agricultural Exports Set Record Highs
January 13, 2023: DATCP Announces Export Expansion Grant Recipients
August 16, 2022: DATCP Ready to Move Forward After Release of Funds for Agricultural Initiatives
June 30, 2022: DATCP, WEDC Announce Agribusinesses Receiving 2022 International Market Access Grants
June 24, 2022: DATCP Announces 2022 Export Expansion Grant Recipients
May 9, 2022: DATCP, WEDC Hold First Wisconsin Agricultural Export Advisory Council Meeting
April 12, 2022: DATCP, WEDC Announce New Wisconsin Agricultural Export Advisory Council
March 2, 2022: WEDC, DATCP Expanding Funding for International Market Access Grants to Agribusinesses
February 21, 2022: DATCP Accepting Applications for Export Expansion Grants through March 18
February 14, 2022: DATCP Secretary Celebrates Record-Breaking Year for Wisconsin Ag Exports, Release of Agricultural Export Funding
December 3, 2021: Gov. Evers Signs Bill to Promote Wisconsin’s Agricultural and Agribusiness Products