Wisconsin Farm Center

Technical Assistance

Almost every change you make on the farm will need technical assistance, and the Wisconsin Farm Center staff can give you general information as well as link you to those people who can provide specific technical assistance.

Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

The department offers many services including consumer and business information, complaint handling, agricultural development and marketing services, farm assistance and more.

For more than 150 years, agriculture has driven Wisconsin's economy, and it remains the state's number one industry. Underpinning this $59 billion agricultural industry is the department's effort to promote the physical and economic health of all the state's citizens.

DATCP strives to protect consumers and has many resources available to help them. By working with landowners and other government agencies, it promotes public health through sound environmental practices to protect the land and advance conservation programs. The department proactively works to support Wisconsin's agricultural industry by protecting the health, safety and pocketbooks of the state's citizens.

Other Governmental Resources

Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority
Loan programs available for Wisconsin agricultural producers, including Beginning Farm Bond Program, crop fund, and farm program.

Wisconsin Department of Commerce
Offers a pair of loan programs for state agribusinesses, including rural early planning grant and rural economic development microloan.

Farmland Preservation
A program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue that provides state income tax credits to farmers who meet the programs requirements. DATCP can assist counties in creating county agricultural preservation plans.

BadgerCare Program
Ensures access to health care for uninsured children and parents with income at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

Youth Apprentice Program
A two-year program for high school juniors and seniors who are interested in specific occupations, including agricultural-related jobs.

Production Agriculture Youth Apprenticeship
Helps provide high school juniors and seniors with the skills and training to meet the technological demands of the agricultural industry.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Information on the preservation, protection, effective management, and maintenance of Wisconsin's natural resources and implementing state laws to meet that obligation.

Wisconsin Stewardship Program
Assists in the acquisition of land for conservation purposes, including wildlife habitat, special scientific or ecological value, rare or endangered habitats and species, stream corridors, and restoration of wetlands and grasslands.

Wisconsin Small Business Administration
A wide range of financial information and loan programs, including SBA Express Loan Program, SBA LowDoc Program, Microloan Program and Pre-Qualification Loan Program Intermediaries.

Small Business Development Center
Works with local colleges and other agencies to serve as a business development resource, funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

USDA-Farm Service Agency
Offers several types of loans that farmers can apply for, including Beginning Farmer and Rancher loans, emergency loans, farm operating loans, and farm ownership loans. FAS also administers other federal programs that deal with crops and livestock.

Wisconsin Farm Service Agency
Administers the federal farm commodity, conservation and loan programs for Wisconsin agricultural producers through nearly 60 service centers throughout the state.

Educational Resources

University of Wisconsin-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
An educational leader in food and agriculture, the life sciences, natural resources and environmental stewardship, and rural community development, offering strong, research-based education opportunities.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Animal Science
Applies science and technology to the production, management and distribution of livestock and poultry for food, fiber and recreation to advance economic vitality.

University of Wisconsin-Platteville School of Agriculture
Offers agricultural education programs designed to enable its graduates to assume responsible positions for the future production and distribution of food in the U.S. and the world.

University of Wisconsin-River Falls College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
The University has earned a reputation for high quality education and service to the people of Wisconsin, offering excellent classroom facilities and teaching laboratories.

Program on Agricultural Technology Studies
Offers information and networking services for farm-related organizations as well as research services for the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other institutions.

University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Profitability
Provides business planning advice, educational programs and support on dairy management, farm business management, and information on dairy issues.

University of Wisconsin-Extension Cooperative Extension
Provides livestock, crop, farm management, and family living consultation and information services from county offices throughout the state.

Wisconsin Technical College System
Provides customized training and technical educational opportunities for students through its 16 technical colleges located around the state.

Beginning Farmer Center of Iowa State University Extension
Through its Farm On Program, offers services and resources to help the transition of farming operations from established farmers to beginning farmers.

Missouri Alternatives Center
Serves a communication tool for farmers, educators, government agencies and people who want to begin farming, diversify their operations or find ways to profit from small amounts of acreage.

Organizational Resources

Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin
Provides educational programs for its members and offers a forum for exchanging ideas and promoting the profitability of the dairy business.

Wisconsin Link
Operated by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, offers access to numerous resources that support the continued success of all aspects of Wisconsin's dairy industry.

National Farm Medicine Center
Conducts high quality research to address human health and safety associated with agricultural work and rural life.

Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas
The national sustainable farming information center operated by the private, nonprofit National Center for Appropriate Technology.