The official account for the Wisconsin DATCP. Our mission is to protect food, fair business practices, ag resources, consumers, plants & animals in Wisconsin.
There is no magic solution for the tough challenges our farmers are facing, but there is support:
@GovEvers
has proposed increased funding for mental health resources in
@widatcp
to help farmers get through these difficult times.
#WI4Us
If Wisconsin were a country, we would rank fourth in world cheese production, behind only the United States, Germany and France. Wisconsin produces even more cheese than Italy.
#JuneDairyMonth
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
Kaitlyn Riley of Gays Mills was crowned as the 71st Alice in Dairyland at the conclusion of the Alice in Dairyland Finale Program held Saturday night at the Adams-Friendship Performing Arts Center. Riley will begin work as the 71st Alice on June 5.
Wisconsin produces 60% of the nation’s crop making us the top cranberry producing state in the country. Tomorrow is
#NationalCranberryRelishDay
. Later this week is
#NationalEatACranberryDay
. Celebrate by enjoying a Wisconsin-grown cranberry – now, that’s cran-tastic!
#DATCP
Don't forget: the
#WIFarmSupportProgram
will re-open in one week. Farmers with 2019 gross income between $10K-$5M who haven't already received payments are eligible to apply thru
@wi_revenue
starting Aug. 10. Visit for more info.
Happy National Ag Day 🎉🍎🐄Celebrate and support the WI farmers who help feed our state, nation, and world by purchasing locally produced products in stores today! Commentary by DATCP Secretary-designee Randy Romanski ➡
#AgDay21
Wisconsin is home to more dairy farms than any other state in the country. About 96% of Wisconsin dairy farms are family-owned. Thank you to our dairy farm families for all you do during
#JuneDairyMonth
and throughout the year!
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
Today is
#WICheeseDay
! Events will be held across the state to celebrate everything cheese. In Wisconsin, we certainly are cheeseheads, ranking first in the nation in cheese production. Follow along today on Twitter for updates!
#WIWorking
@GovEvers
declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health and today marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month. Throughout the month of May, DATCP will be sharing content to raise awareness on various mental health resources and topics.
#MentalHealthAwarenessMonth
Wisconsin food, forestry and agriculture product exports set a record in 2022, according to U.S. Census trade data. Exports were shipped to 142 countries totaling nearly $4.22 billion, a 7% increase from the previous record in 2021.
Learn more:
Have you received a package of unsolicited seeds in the mail? Report them to
@widatcp
using our online form: Do not plant or throw away the seeds, and save the packaging if possible.
#Wisconsinagriculture
#Seeds
#PlantHealth
Charcuterie boards are a great way to enjoy all of your favorite Wisconsin cheeses! Wisconsin’s 75th
@Alice_Dairyland
, Taylor Schaefer, and DATCP Secretary Romanski recently got together to design a board to celebrate
#NationalDairyMonth
.
Don't forget: the
#WIFarmSupportProgram
will re-open in one week. Farmers with 2019 gross income between $10K-$5M who haven't already received payments are eligible to apply thru
@wi_revenue
starting Aug. 10. Visit for more info.
Wisconsin is known around the world for our quality dairy products. Wisconsin exports of dairy-related goods in 2017 were valued at $297 million, a 19.9% increase compared to the year before.
#JuneDairyMonth
@WIDairyland
#WIWoking
On
#AgDay
,
@widatcp
celebrates its 68,500 farms. WI is the national leader in snap beans for processing, cheese, cranberries, ginseng, mink pelts, milk goats, corn for silage and more.
#WIWinning
@GovEvers
has issued a proclamation declaring October 2023 as Wisconsin Farm to School Month, expressing appreciation for the local farmers, resilient and thriving local food systems, and school nutrition professionals who diligently nourish our state's growing youth.
WI's unemployment rate has stayed at or below 3.0% for a record eight straight months, according to information released by
@WIWorkforce
. Great news for the state's workers!
#WIWorking
Yesterday, DATCP hosted a roundtable discussion on broadband access with a variety of partners from agriculture, local governments, cooperatives, and others. Watch the conversation on our YouTube channel at
Round table participants stress the importance of free, fair and transparent trade policies for WI agriculture. Chad Vincent of
@WIDairyland
spoke about partnering with
@widatcp
to grow exports internationally of our quality products.
#WIWorking
@WIFarmBureau
@FarmersForTrade
Yesterday, Secretary Romanski and Governor Tony Evers spoke at the opening ceremony for the 2023 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days at the Badger Steam and Gas Engine Club in Baraboo, Wisconsin.⏰ There’s still time today and tomorrow to stop by the DATCP booth.
What better way to celebrate America than with ice cream, a parade, and fireworks? Fortunately for Wisconsin, we've got a lot of milk for the ice cream. Our state is home to 22 ice cream plants. Happy 4th of July!
#NationalIceCreamMonth
#WIWorking
Cheese consumption is at an all-time high! That is good news for Wisconsin. Americans eat about 35.1 pounds of total cheese each year.
#JuneDairyMonth
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
Applications are due in just one week for the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to improve soil and water quality for Wisconsin’s watersheds, apply today!
Learn more here:
@wisconsinoci
Today is first day of the
@wistatefair
! This morning, DATCP Sec. Romanski toured the fairgrounds with
@GovEvers
and his staff. Don’t forget to stop by DATCP’s booth located in the WI Products Pavilion, open 10:00am-10:00pm from August 4-14.
Include Wisconsin potatoes on your dinner table this holiday. WI ranks third in the nation in potato production, harvesting potatoes on 64,000 acres last year. Thank you Wisconsin potato farmers!
#WIWorking
Shullsburg Creamery is one of today's
#WICheeseDay
hosts. Shullsburg Creamery began producing cheddar way back in the 1930's. Did you know that Wisconsin makes more than 600 types, styles and varieties of cheese?
#WIWorking
Wisconsin is a leader in dairy processing! Our state is home to 146 cheese plants, 14 butter factories, 22 ice cream plants and 18 yogurt plants.
#JuneDairyMonth
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
Thank you to all who joined the Dairy Summit at
@WDExpo
this morning including
@USDA
Under Secretary Moffitt,
@MNagriculture
Commissioner Petersen,
@VTAgencyofAg
Secretary Tebbetts, and the four Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives. What a great discussion!
Did you know that Wisconsin is home to more than 3.4 million cows and calves with 1.28 million being dairy cows? Today is Cow Appreciation Day, so join us in celebrating cows and all of the ways they support Wisconsin’s agriculture industry! 🐄
Join us in thanking Wisconsin’s farmers this
#NationalFarmersDay
! If you see a farmer, say thank you. You can also thank a farmer by slowing down for farm equipment and visiting an agritourism site.
To make our delicious dairy products, Wisconsin needs a lot of milk! It takes 12 pounds of whole milk to make one pound of ice cream and 10 pounds of whole milk to make one pound of cheese.
#JuneDairyMonth
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
More cheese, please! Wisconsin cheeses are making quite a stir in international markets. Read more about how cheese from Ellsworth, Shullsburg, and more Wisconsin towns are famous worldwide.
@CheeseCurdsWI
@WICheeseMakers
@WisconsinCheese
Happy National Farmers Market Week! Sec. Romanski recently attended the Downtown Verona Farmers Market and spoke with Mona Cassis about how the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce is using their Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant to expand outreach and opportunities for local vendors.
The WI Farm Center offers free and confidential mental health support 24/7. For immediate support or to gain access to additional mental health services, contact the 24/7 Farmer Wellness Helpline at (888) 901-2558 or visit .
Today is
#NationalMilkDay
. Here in America's Dairyland, our cows produce more than 30 billion pounds of milk each year for us to drink and make into delicious dairy products. Thank you Wisconsin dairy farmers!
#WIWorking
Delaying spring garden cleanup until it’s around 50° F helps protect pollinators 🐝🦋🐛. Wild pollinators overwinter in plant debris, like the leaves near this Common Blue Violet: .
#ProtectPollinators
Today
@widatcp
Secretary Harsdorf and Assistant Deputy Secretary Ripp visited Endres Berry Ridge Farm in Waunakee. Jeff Endres is part of
@YaharaPride
, one of the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant recipients. Read the impact report at .
#WIWorking
It’s okay to talk about mental health, and the Wisconsin Farm Center is here to help. If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, depression, or another mental health challenge, you are not alone.
.
@widatcp
Sec Harsdorf is visiting
@UWRiverFalls
on
#WICheeseDay
to see construction at the dairy pilot plant. This renovation will allow for increased teaching, outreach, and research in dairy manufacturing. Training the next generation of dairy industry leaders!
#StudentSuccess
DATCP’s 2023 Dairy Processor Grant recipients have been announced! Sec. Romanski made the announcement at Nasonville Dairy in Marshfield, one of this year’s grant recipients.
To learn more, visit:
Meet the 2018 Alice in Dairyland Top Candidates (front, l-r): Kaitlyn Riley, 70th Alice in Dairyland Crystal Siemers-Peterman, Jacqueline Hilliard; ( back l-r): Sydney Endres, Megan Schulte, Kristen Broege, and Alexus Grossbier
@Alice_Dairyland
#WIWorking
Wisconsin is experiencing the highest level of employment in our state's history. That is good news for Wisconsin workers! In Wisconsin, one in nine people work in a job related to agriculture.
#WIWorking
Gov. Evers' proposed investments in transportation, rural broadband, water quality initiatives and farmers' mental health would help rural Wisconsin and the environment, says DATCP Secretary Brad Pfaff. More at .
It's
#JuneDairy
Month! Wisconsin produces about 14% of the country's milk, right here in America's Dairyland! An average cow in Wisconsin produces about 2,758 gallons each year.
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
.
.
@widatcp
Harsdorf visited
@FollowMSTC
Thursday to celebrate Ag Day. While there, she toured the campus, spoke during the program & met with local businesses. One in nine people in WI work in a career related to ag.
@WisTechColleges
are preparing our future workforce!
#WIWorking
Take a look at Wisconsin’s top 10 agricultural products in this year's Growing Wisconsin magazine. Dairy products, including our state's award-winning specialty cheeses, leads the list based on cash receipts. Can you guess
#2
? Read more at .
It's SmallBusinessWeek! Wisconsin is home to 445,445 small businesses with approximately 1.2 million employees, according to
@SBAgov
. Thank you to our state small businesses for all your contributions to Wisconsin!
@SBA_Wisconsin
#WIWorking
Wisconsin is known for its quality as well as quantity of cheese. At the 2018 World Championship Cheese Contest, Wisconsin earned 47 gold medals and had five finalists for the best cheese. The contest had 3,402 entries.
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
Wisconsin’s maple syrup is top-notch – so much that Wisconsin ranks 4th in the nation for maple syrup production. Secretary Romanski and Alice in Dairyland are celebrating
#NationalMapleSyrupDay
by enjoying pancakes topped with
@WIssfw
member Tom & Ma's Maple Syrup. 🥞
I'm celebrating
#NationalMilkDay
by raising a glass of farm-fresh WI milk and thanking our hardworking dairy farmers. We challenged each other in a
#MilkChugChallenge
and we're now calling on YOU to do the same!
Congratulations to Julia Nunes of Chippewa Falls, who was crowned as the 73rd Alice in Dairyland at the conclusion of the Alice in Dairyland Finale Program held Saturday night in Delavan. Nunes will begin work as the 73rd Alice on July 6.
Sec.-Designee Brad Pfaff says he's glad USDA Sec. Sonny Perdue took the chance to spend time with WI's outstanding farmers, but ""get big or get out' is simply not the message I am hearing from our family farmers..." Read more at
It's National
#FFAWeek
! About one in nine people in Wisconsin work in a job related to agriculture. FFA members, there are many career opportunities available to you in on-farm production, research, processing, engineering, marketing, and more.
@WisconsinFFA
@NationalFFA
The average Wisconsin dairy cow generates more than $34,000 a year in economic activity, and these dollars circulate throughout the local community, supporting schools and local businesses.
#JuneDairyMonth
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
Today
@widatcp
Secretary Harsdorf gave opening remarks at
@UWMadisonCALS
Food Security and Global Development Symposium. Wisconsin farmers produce a variety of safe and quality foods for consumers worldwide.
#WIWorking
It's June Dairy Month! This month on the DATCP Blog, DATCP Secretary-designee Randy Romanski shares just a few of the ways to celebrate Wisconsin's long, proud dairy heritage and invest in the future of our state's signature industry:
"Even during this
#COVID19_WI
public health emergency, farmers and processors are working tirelessly to produce food for all of us." Read more from
#WIDATCP
Interim Secretary Randy Romanski at .
The state’s approximately 1,200
licensed cheesemakers make over 600 varieties,
types, and styles of cheese – nearly double the number of any other state.
#JuneDairyMonth
@WIDairyland
#WIWorking
@widatcp
Sec.-designee Randy Romanski joined five other Midwestern state agricultural leaders today to encourage people to get vaccinated for
#COVID19
Read the news release and watch the video at
Yesterday, Sec. Romanski and UW-Platteville announced the Beginning a Career in the Meat Industry sessions, a half-day course designed for students who want to learn more about careers in the meat sector. Find more info in the release:
Farmers, as you are planning for 2019, remember the Farm Center is available for financial counseling at (800) 942-2474. All services are free and confidential. Staff can help with cash flow analysis, feasibility analysis and more.
Happy June Dairy Month! Celebrate Wisconsin’s dairy industry by supporting local producers and treating yourself to your favorite dairy product. For more information, please visit:
Sec. Sheila Harsdorf announces new scholarships for Wisconsin citizens wanting to continue careers as dairy farmers or in dairy development and promotion. More at .
#Studentsuccess
Secretary Harsdorf enjoyed visiting the Case IH Customer Experience Center in Sturtevant this afternoon, and thanked them for their investment and commitment to Wisconsin.
.
@LtGovKleefisch
and
@Alice_Dairyland
are visiting Eau Galle Cheese today for
#WICheeseDay
. Eau Galle has been family-owned since 1945. In Wisconsin, we're proud of the dairy industry, part of the state's heritage and prosperous future!
#WIWorking