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Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE)

WIAE Plan

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

Export Expansion Grants

Export Expansion Grants aim to accelerate the growth of Wisconsin dairy, meat, and crop product exports.

Applications for the latest round of Export Expansion Grants are being accepted until 11:59 p.m. on April 9, 2025. Click the link above to access application information and materials.

International Market Access Grants (IMAG)

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, outbound 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: 

Council Meeting - September 10, 2025

Upcoming WAXC Webinars:

Informational Webinar, June 18, 2025 (date and topic to be confirmed)

Previous Council Meetings and Webinars:

Council Meeting - March 5, 2025, 9 a.m.
Materials: Agenda | 3/5/2025 WAXC Meeting Minutes | 3/5/2025 Presentation Slides

Informational Webinar - January 22, 2025, 9 a.m. (Webinar Recording)
Materials: Agenda | 1/22/2025 Presentation Slides

Council Meeting - September 18, 2024, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: Agenda | 3/6/2024 WAXC Meeting Minutes | 9/18/24 Presentation Slides

Informational Webinar - July 10, 2024, 9 a.m. (Webinar Recording)
Materials: Agenda | WIAE Report to Legislature Presentation Slides

Council Meeting - March 6, 2024, 9 a.m. (Meeting Recording)
Materials: 3/6/24 Presentation Slides

Wisconsin Agricultural Export Webinar - January 17, 2024, 9 a.m. (Webinar Recording)
Topic: Growing Exports and Ensuring Payments through Credit Terms and Insurance
Materials: 1/17/24 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. (Webinar Recording)
Materials: 11/15/23 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.