Organizational structure

PATS is an applied research and extension unit, housed in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is linked with Cooperative Extension. PATS is a joint program of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics and the Department of Rural Sociology. In addition to several permanent professional staff members, PATS has a Program Advisory Committee (PAC) of faculty and citizen representatives who provide input on overall program direction and feedback on PATS' activities. PATS' staff work collaboratively on various projects with the Center for Integrated Agriculture Systems (CIAS) and with scientists from the Dairy Forage Research Center. PATS' staff are also involved in UW-Extension teams.

PATS was formerly known as the Agricultural Technology and Family Farm Institute (ATFFI), which was established by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 1990.