The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is a governmental agency of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

responsible for regulating

agriculture Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...

trade Trade involves the transfer of goods and services from one person or entity to another, often in exchange for money. Economists refer to a system or network that allows trade as a market. Traders generally negotiate through a medium of cr ...

, and commercial activity in the state. The department is administered by a secretary who is appointed by the

governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

and confirmed by the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

. The department is directed and supervised by a nine-member Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, who serve staggered six year terms and are appointed by the governor. Two of the board members are required to be consumer representatives, while the other seven are required to have an agricultural background.

History

The department traces its history back to the

Wisconsin Territory The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized and incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belm ...

, with early efforts to establish inspection of food and other farm products and establish a program to regulate weights and measures. County treasurers were then empowered to enforce standards. In 1867, the state government established a position under the State Treasurer to enforce further quality standards. That system was supplemented in 1889 with the creation of the Office of Dairy and Food Commissioner to enforce food safety, food labeling, and laws on weights and measures. The state also established a State Veterinarian to evaluate farm animals, a state board of agriculture, an inspector of apiaries, a state orchard and nursery inspector, a state supervisor of illuminating oils, and a state humane agent. The first state Department of Agriculture was created in 1915 by Governor Emanuel L. Philipp, by merging the functions of these several different inspectors and regulators. The department was led by a commissioner, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State Senate. The Division of Markets was created within the department of Agriculture in 1919, in order to improve and promote the market for Wisconsin farm products. The division was established as a separate Department of Markets in 1921, and granted additional powers to regulate unfair competition and trade practices. The Departments of Agriculture and the Department of Markets were re-combined in 1929 as the Department of Agriculture and Markets. The department was overseen by three commissioners who were all appointed by the governor, and a secretary selected by the commissioners. In 1939, the department was renamed the Department of Agriculture. The department was then overseen by a seven-member Board of Agriculture, who were all appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. All seven members were required to have an agricultural background. This board appointed the department's Secretary. The department was renamed again in 1977 to its present name—the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The 1977 law also established that one of the seven members of the Board of Agriculture must be a consumer representative. In 1995, the state legislature changed the law around appointment of the secretary of the department, allowing for a direct gubernatorial appointment, rather than a selection by the Board. The Board was also expanded to eight members, with two being consumer representatives. The Board was expanded again in 1997 to nine members.

Divisions

*Agricultural Development: promotes Wisconsin products and provides counseling and mediation services to farmers *Agricultural Resource Management: protects resources and public health *Animal Health: works to diagnose, prevent, and control serious animal diseases *Food Safety: regulates food production *Management Services: provides the administrative work for the department *Trade and Consumer Protection: enforces

consumer protection Consumer protection is the practice of safeguarding buyers of goods and services, and the public, against unfair practices in the marketplace. Consumer protection measures are often established by law. Such laws are intended to prevent business ...

laws

Secretaries and Commissioners

Commissioners of Agriculture (1915–1929)

Commissioners of Markets (1919–1929)

Secretary of Agriculture and Markets (1929–1937)

Secretaries (1967–present)

References

External links

Official website
{{authority control Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Government agencies established in 1929 1929 establishments in Wisconsin