View source for Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

{{Short description|Wisconsin government agency that regulates agriculture, trade & commercial activity}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name   = Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
|logo          = Seal of Wisconsin.svg
|logo_width    = 200px
|logo_caption  =
|seal          =
|seal_width    =
|seal_caption  =
|formed     =  1929
|preceding1    = Wisconsin Department of Agriculture (1915&ndash;1929)
|preceding2    = Wisconsin Department of Markets (1921&ndash;1929)
|preceding3    =
|jurisdiction  = [[Wisconsin]]
|headquarters  = 2811 Agriculture Dr<br />[[Madison, Wisconsin]]
|coordinates     = {{coord|43|3|37.512|N|89|17|18.672|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|region_code	 = US-WI
|employees     = 630.29 (2019)<ref name="bb2019">{{cite report|url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2019_2020 |title= Wisconsin Blue Book 2019-2020 |year= 2019 |ISBN= 978-1-7333817-0-3 |location= [[Madison, Wisconsin]] |publisher= State of Wisconsin |author= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |chapter= Units of State Government: Executive |pages=191–193}}</ref>
|budget        = [[United States dollar|$]]193,595,700 (2019)<ref name="bb2019"/>
|chief1_name     = Randy Romanski<ref name=sec>{{cite web|url=https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/Leadership.aspx |title= Leadership |website= Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection |access-date=December 16, 2020}}</ref>
|chief1_position = Secretary
|chief2_name     = Angela James<ref name=sec/>
|chief2_position = Deputy Secretary
|chief3_name     = Eric Ebersberger<ref name=sec/>
|chief3_position = Assistant Deputy Secretary
|parent_agency = State of Wisconsin
|website       = http://www.datcp.wi.gov/
|footnotes     =
}}
The '''Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection''' is a governmental agency of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]] responsible for regulating [[agriculture]], [[trade]], and commercial activity in the state. The department is administered by a secretary who is appointed by the [[Governor of Wisconsin|governor]] and confirmed by the [[Wisconsin Senate|Senate]].
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/ATCPBoard.aspx |title=Board of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection |publisher=Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection |access-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref>
==History==
The department traces its history back to the [[Wisconsin Territory]], 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.<ref name="2015history">{{cite report|url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2015_2016 |title=  State of Wisconsin 2015&ndash;2016 Blue Book |year= 2015 |publisher= Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau |chapter-url= https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2015_2016/600_executive_branch.pdf |chapter= Executive Branch |pages= 371–379 |access-date= April 22, 2023 }}</ref>
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.<ref name="2015history"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-08 |title=Philipp, Emanuel Lorenz 1861 - 1925 |url=https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS11743 |access-date=2024-02-21 |website=Wisconsin Historical Society |language=en}}</ref>
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.<ref name="2015history"/>
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.<ref name="2015history"/>
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.<ref name="2015history"/>
The department was renamed again in 1977 to its present name&mdash;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.<ref name="2015history"/>
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.<ref name="2015history"/>  The Board was expanded again in 1997 to nine members.<ref name="2015history"/>
==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]] laws
==Secretaries and Commissioners==
===Commissioners of Agriculture (1915&ndash;1929)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Commissioner
! Took office
! Left office
! Notes
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Christian P.|Norgord|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1915|8|5}}
| {{Date table sorting|1923|5|24}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[Emanuel L. Philipp]].<br />Reappointed by Governor [[John J. Blaine]].
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|John D.|Jones Jr.|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1923|5|24}}
| {{Date table sorting|1927|3|24}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[John J. Blaine]].
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Walter A.|Duffy}}
| {{Date table sorting|1927|3|24}}
| {{Date table sorting|1929|9|16}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[Fred R. Zimmerman]].<br />Served until position abolished.
|}
===Commissioners of Markets (1919&ndash;1929)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Commissioner
! Took office
! Left office
! Notes
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|James B.|Borden|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1919|8|21}}
| {{Date table sorting|1919|8|22}}
| align="left" | Selected by committee, confirmed by Governor [[Emanuel L. Philipp]].<Br />Resigned due to conflicts of interest.
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Edward|Nordman}}
| {{Date table sorting|1919|8|28}}
| {{Date table sorting|1927|9|6}}
| align="left" | Selected by committee, confirmed by Governor [[Emanuel L. Philipp]].
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|James|Vint}}
| {{Date table sorting|1927|9|12}}
| {{Date table sorting|1929|9|16}}
| align="left" | Appointed by [[Fred R. Zimmerman]].<br />Served until position abolished.
|}
===Secretary of Agriculture and Markets (1929&ndash;1937)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Secretary
! Took office
! Left office
! Notes
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Oscar J.|Thompson|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1930|1|1}}
| 1937
| align="left" | Appointed by the Commission of Agriculture and Markets.
|}
<!--
===Directors of the Department of Agriculture (1937&ndash;1977)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! Director
! Took office
! Left office
! Notes
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Ralph E.|Ammon|nolink=1}}
| ~1937
|
| align="left" | Selected by committee.
|-
| align="left" | {{sortname|Donald N.|McDowell|nolink=1}}
|
|
| align="left" | Served until position abolished.
|}
-->
===Secretaries (1967&ndash;present)===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|-
! #
! Secretary
! Took office
! Left office
! Notes
|-
| 1
| align="left" | {{sortname|Donald N.|McDowell|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1967|8|1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1969|4|1}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Board.
|-
| 2
| align="left" | {{sortname|Donald|Wilkinson|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1969|4|1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1975|7|24}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Board.
|-
| &ndash;
| align="left" | {{sortname|Arthur|Kurtz|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1975|7|24}}
| {{Date table sorting|1976|1|19}}
| align="left" | ''Acting secretary''
|-
| 3
| align="left" | {{sortname|Gary E.|Rohde|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1976|1|19}}
| {{Date table sorting|1981|8|17}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Board.
|-
| &ndash;
| align="left" | {{sortname|Joseph|Tuss|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1981|8|17}}
| {{Date table sorting|1981|11|1}}
| align="left" | ''Acting secretary''
|-
| 4
| align="left" | {{sortname|La Verne|Ausman}}
| {{Date table sorting|1981|11|1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1985|12|19}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Board.
|-
| &ndash;
| align="left" | {{sortname|John|Cottingham|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1985|12|19}}
| {{Date table sorting|1986|5|1}}
| align="left" | ''Acting secretary''
|-
| 5
| align="left" | {{sortname|Howard C.|Richards|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1986|5|1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1990|4|13}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Board.
|-
| 6
| align="left" | {{sortname|Alan|Tracy|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1990|4|13}}
| {{Date table sorting|1997|7|31}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Board.
|-
| &ndash;
| align="left" | {{sortname|Joseph E.|Tregoning}}
| {{Date table sorting|1997|8|1}}
| {{Date table sorting|1997|11|2}}
| align="left" | ''Acting secretary''
|-
| 7
| align="left" | {{sortname|Ben|Brancel}}
| {{Date table sorting|1997|11|2}}
| {{Date table sorting|2001|2|15}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[Tommy Thompson]].
|-
| 8
| align="left" | {{sortname|James|Harsdorf}}
| {{Date table sorting|2001|2|15}}
| {{Date table sorting|2003|1|6}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[Scott McCallum]].
|-
| 9
| align="left" | {{sortname|Rod|Nilsestuen|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|2003|1|6}}
| {{Date table sorting|2010|7|21}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[Jim Doyle]].<Br />Died in office.
|-
| &ndash;
| align="left" | {{sortname|Randall|Romanski|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|2010|7|21}}
| {{Date table sorting|2011|1|3}}
| align="left" | ''Acting secretary''
|-
| 10
| align="left" | {{sortname|Ben|Brancel}}
| {{Date table sorting|2011|1|3}}
| {{Date table sorting|2017|8|13}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]].
|-
| 11
| align="left" | {{sortname|Sheila|Harsdorf}}
| {{Date table sorting|2017|11|13}}
| {{Date table sorting|2019|1|7}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[Scott Walker (politician)|Scott Walker]].
|-
| 12
| align="left" | {{sortname|Brad|Pfaff}}
| {{Date table sorting|2019|1|7}}
| {{Date table sorting|2019|11|5}}
| align="left" | Appointed by Governor [[Tony Evers]], never confirmed.
|-
| 13
| align="left" | {{sortname|Randall|Romanski|nolink=1}}
| {{Date table sorting|2019|11|5}}
| align="center" | ''present''
| align="left" | Acting secretary until September 28, 2021.<br />Appointed by Governor [[Tony Evers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/About_Us/Leadership.aspx |title= Leadership |website= Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection |accessdate= April 23, 2023 }}</ref>
|}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.datcp.wi.gov/ Official website]
{{authority control}}
[[Category:State agencies of Wisconsin|Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1929]]
[[Category:1929 establishments in Wisconsin]]