Promoting the export of Wisconsin's agricultural and agribusiness products. (FE)

Specifically, the bill requires WEDC and the Center for International Agribusiness Marketing in DATCP to cooperate to achieve the following export objectives by June 30, 2026:

1. Increase the value of Wisconsin's milk and other dairy product exports by at least 25 percent over the value as of December 31, 2021.

2. Increase the value of Wisconsin's meat, including poultry and fish, and meat product exports by at least 25 percent over the value as of December 31, 2021.

3. Increase the value of Wisconsin's crop and crop product exports by at least 25 percent over the value as of December 31, 2021.

The bill requires that WEDC expend $5,000,000 under the program, after requesting the Joint Committee on Finance for funding for the program. Of that amount, the bill requires WEDC to ensure that $2,500,000 is devoted to increasing the value of Wisconsin's milk and other dairy product exports, $1,250,000 is devoted to increasing the value of Wisconsin's meat exports, and $1,250,000 is devoted to increasing the value of Wisconsin's crop exports, all as provided above. Under the bill, WEDC may not expend more than a total of $1,000,000 under the program in any fiscal year.

No later than December 31, 2021, WEDC and DATCP must jointly submit a plan to the legislature for how WEDC and DATCP intend to achieve the export objectives established in the bill. The plan must include a plan to award grants totaling at least 15 percent of the moneys appropriated for the program to Wisconsin exporters no later than December 31, 2022. Additionally, no later than June 30, 2024, WEDC and DATCP must jointly submit a report to the legislature that describes in detail all progress made in achieving the export goals the bill establishes for the program, as described above.

Finally, the bill requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct a program evaluation audit of the exports program and complete its audit report no later than December 31, 2026.