Representatives from around the world will visit Wisconsin the week of Sept. 22 to experience first-hand the breadth and diversity of American agriculture. Agricultural attachés from more than 25 countries will tour Wisconsin to see U.S. farmers, their products and practices and learn how America stays on the leading edge of agricultural production.

Wisconsin’s climate, natural resources, agribusinesses, and farm heritage help to make it one of the most diverse agricultural states nationwide. In 2013, Wisconsin is ranked 13th overall for agricultural exports.   It exported more than $3.2 billion worth of agricultural products to more than 150 countries.

The tour is arranged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Foreign Agricultural Service Administer Phil Karsting will be present on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the tour.

Tour participants pay for their own travel, lodging, meals and expenses.

The tour will include stops at:

  The DeLong Company in Clinton, a full-service grain company that exports feed and food grains, and Cerny Farm in Sharon, a soybean and corn operation, on Sept. 22.

  Organic Valley Co-op in LaFarge and the Cashton Distribution Center on Sept. 23.

  Wetherby Cranberry Company in Warrens, including a marsh tour, on Sept. 24.

  Arlington Agricultural Research Station in Arlington, a leader in applied agricultural research, and Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center at UW-Madison, one of three national research centers conducting transformational biofuels research, on Sept. 26.