Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

What Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection does

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is a state government agency headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin, with a secondary office in Milwaukee. It administers regulatory and service programs across three core domains: consumer protection, agricultural development, and trade/food safety. Consumer Protection services include a toll-free hotline (800-422-7128) handling over 100,000 complaints and inquiries annually, identity theft resources, scam awareness education, landlord-tenant enforcement, and administration of the Do Not Call Registry with 4.97 million+ registered numbers. The Food and Recreational Safety Division licenses and inspects nearly 24,000 food, lodging, and recreation establishments plus 3,000+ food processing and storage facilities, while supervising 55 local health department jurisdictions. Agricultural programs include the Farm Center (farmer wellness, financial consulting, mediation), Land and Water Conservation, Animal Health, Weights and Measures, and the Economic Development and Innovation Center, alongside grant programs such as Producer-Led Watershed Protection ($1M to 49 groups in 2026), Meat Processor Infrastructure ($700K), and USDA-funded Specialty Crop Block Grants ($10K-$100K per project).

DATCP is funded through Wisconsin state legislative appropriations and federal grants (notably USDA). It does not generate commercial revenue; licensing and inspection fees paid by regulated businesses supplement appropriations but do not represent commercial sales. Services to consumers are free; the agency operates through direct-to-citizen delivery via online portals (MyDATCP), telephone hotlines, in-person offices, local health department partnerships, and active social media across five platforms. The underlying technology stack consists of standard government administrative systems built on Microsoft SharePoint, with helpdesk support from Tyler Technologies. There is no proprietary commercial software product.

Name

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Legal name

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

Website

https://datcp.wi.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Wisconsin DATCP is a state government agency that protects consumers through complaint resolution and scam prevention, regulates food safety across nearly 24,000 licensed establishments, and supports farmers via conservation grants, the Farm Center, and agricultural development programs serving Wisconsin residents and businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Government Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Licensing, Permitting & Regulatory Administration (Cross-sector) (BPAIABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Consumer Protection & Product Safety Regulators (BPAIAOAE), Pesticide & Agricultural Chemical Health Regulators (HLAJAFAG), Veterinary Regulatory Authorities (Licensing, Compliance & Enforcement) (HLAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Food safety inspection
• Consumer protection services
• Agricultural regulation
• Business licensing
• Weights and measures

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government appropriations and regulatory fees: DATCP is a state government agency funded through Wisconsin state appropriations and federal grants. The agency collects licensing fees, inspection fees, and regulatory fees from regulated businesses but primarily operates on taxpayer-funded government appropriations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DATCP is a Wisconsin state government agency that regulates food safety, agriculture, trade, and consumer protection. It licenses and inspects approximately 24,000 food, lodging, and recreation establishments, processes consumer complaints, enforces fair trade practices, administers agricultural conservation grants, and operates programs such as the Do Not Call Registry and DriftWatch specialty crop mapping service.

Product overview

DATCP is a government agency providing a comprehensive portfolio of consumer protection, agricultural development, and regulatory services organized into distinct program areas. Core offerings include Consumer Protection Services (hotline, complaints, identity theft support), the Farm Center (farmer assistance, financial counseling, mental health), Food and Recreational Safety Division (licensing/inspection of ~24,000 establishments), Animal Health Programs, Land and Water Conservation, Weights and Measures Bureau, and Economic Development/Innovation Center. Supporting services include grant programs, an online services portal (MyDATCP), Do Not Call Registry, DriftWatch specialty crop mapping, consumer protection presentations/outreach toolkits, and international agribusiness support. These programs serve Wisconsin citizens, farmers, businesses, and agricultural stakeholders through direct services, online portals, and educational resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consumer Protection Services Resources and assistance for consumers and businesses including toll-free hotline, complaint processing, identity theft protection, and consumer education. Serves Wisconsin residents and businesses statewide.
• Farm Center Free and confidential assistance for Wisconsin farmers including mental health wellness, financial consulting, herd-based diagnostics, mediation, and veteran farmer assistance.
• Food and Recreational Safety Division Regulates the entire food chain from agricultural producer to consumer, licensing and inspecting nearly 24,000 food, lodging, and recreation establishments plus over 3,000 food processing and storage facilities.
• Animal Health Programs Programs including animal diseases, movement regulations, official identification, professional training, and species-specific health management for Wisconsin livestock and animal industries.
• Land and Water Conservation Programs including agricultural enterprise areas, farmland preservation, nutrient management, soil health, sustainability initiatives, and producer-led watershed projects for Wisconsin agricultural conservation.
• Weights and Measures Bureau Monitors accuracy and safety of devices used for measurement, storage, and commerce statewide. Regulates petroleum storage tanks and fuel quality.
• Grants and Funding Programs Various grant opportunities including dairy processor and meat processor infrastructure grants, specialty crop block grants, and producer-led watershed protection grants for Wisconsin agricultural stakeholders.
• Online Services Portal (MyDATCP) Web portal providing access to license management, service requests, and online transactions with DATCP for regulated businesses and citizens.
• Do Not Call Registry Wisconsin's telemarketing No Call registry with over 4.97 million registered numbers to reduce unwanted telemarketing calls.
• DriftWatch Online service helping producers of specialty crops and bees protect farmland and apiaries through mapping of sensitive crop locations.
• Consumer Protection Hotlines Free resource where consumers can call or email to speak with consumer protection staff for information on scams, consumer laws, publications, and to file complaints.
• Consumer Protection Presentations and Outreach Free presentations and educational materials available through webinars, workshops, toolkits, and conferences on consumer protection topics for businesses, law enforcement, seniors, students, military members, and general consumers.
• Economic Development and Innovation Center Agricultural development programs including agritourism, dairy development, farm to school, grazing development, meat and livestock development, organic farming, and specialty crops.
• International Agribusiness Export assistance including approved establishments, exporting documents, export statistics, and the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100,000 complaints and queries processed annually with millions returned to consumers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026DATCP and DOR partnered to mark Identity Theft Awareness Week, promoting best practices for protecting personal information during tax season (January-April). Agencies recommend consumers place credit security freezes, fraud alerts, sign up for IP PINs, and monitor credit reports to reduce tax-related identity theft risk.
• Wisconsin Farmer-Led Watershed GroupscoreOthers · 21 January 2026DATCP awarded $1 million in grants to 49 farmer-led groups under the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program, the 11th funding cycle since 2015. Groups deliver conservation practices on farmland to protect Wisconsin watersheds. Highest application volume in program history with groups requesting nearly $1.65 million total.
• Wisconsin Meat ProcessorscoreOthers · 14 January 2026DATCP opened applications for Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Program (January 27, 2026, deadline February 23), awarding up to $50,000 per project totaling $700,000 to help Wisconsin meat processors modernize and expand capacity. Requires 100% match from recipients.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)coreOthers · 16 December 2025DATCP administers 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grants (applications due March 3, 2026) funded through USDA, with grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for projects enhancing specialty crop competitiveness through research, education, or market development. Selected projects begin fall 2026 subject to USDA approval.
• Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025DATCP and OCI partnered to warn consumers about health insurance and discount plan scams during open enrollment season, advising consumers to verify coverage details, confirm provider credentials, and be cautious of misleading advertisements.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Illinois Department of Agriculture: Illinois's state agriculture agency administers animal health, weights and measures, agricultural products inspection, and conservation programs for a comparable Midwestern farming base. Direct peer because of overlapping program authority on livestock health, food inspection, and product/weights regulation.
• Texas Department of Agriculture: Texas's state agriculture department administering weights and measures, pesticide regulation, food and fuel quality programs, and consumer protection related to agriculture. Peer because it shares DATCP's licensing/inspection, weights and measures, and pesticide oversight functions within a single state agency.
• California Department of Food and Agriculture: California's state agriculture agency with a closely analogous mandate covering plant and animal health, food safety inspection, agricultural marketing, weights and measures, and consumer protection programs relevant to agriculture. Comparable because both are state-level umbrella agencies combining agricultural production oversight, food licensing, and consumer protection under one roof.
• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture: Pennsylvania's state agriculture agency handles food safety, plant and animal health, weights and measures, and consumer protection/bureau of ride safety across regulated industries. Peer because it operates a similarly broad umbrella of consumer and agricultural regulatory functions within a single state department.
• Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: Michigan's state agriculture agency provides food and dairy inspection, animal industry oversight, pesticide and plant pest regulation, and agricultural development programs. Peer because it shares DATCP's combination of licensing, inspection, conservation, and rural development functions in a neighboring Great Lakes state.
• Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship: Iowa's combined agriculture and land stewardship agency, structurally similar to DATCP in pairing agricultural regulation with conservation programs (including watershed and soil health initiatives). Direct peer because both states run producer-led conservation grant programs alongside conventional agricultural licensing and animal health oversight.
• New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets: New York's combined agriculture-and-markets state agency regulates food safety, animal and plant health, weights and measures, and agricultural marketing under a single commissioner. Direct peer because it offers the same consolidated state-level mandate and program structure that DATCP embodies in Wisconsin.
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture: Minnesota's state agriculture agency oversees food safety, plant and animal health, agricultural marketing, and consumer protection programs serving a comparable Midwestern producer base. Direct peer given geographic proximity and parallel program portfolios, including dairy, livestock, and conservation grant offerings.

Broad incumbents

• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture): The federal counterpart that funds and coordinates with state-level agriculture agencies, including DATCP-administered programs like Specialty Crop Block Grants. Broad incumbent because it sets national policy and funding, while DATCP executes state-level implementation of many USDA programs.

Regional players

• Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services: Another Wisconsin state regulatory agency that handles professional licensing (including veterinary examining board coordination touching DATCP's domain). Regional/state-level peer because it administers overlapping Wisconsin occupational and facility licensing that intersects with DATCP's regulated populations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/widatcp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/widatcp
• Facebookfacebook.com/widatcp
• Instagraminstagram.com/wisdatcp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/widatcp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments39 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection