In the early years of the Horticulture Department, the Wisconsin Horticultural Society and the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association initiated educational and research programs in fruit crops and cranberries. These two organization encouraged university personnel to assist with grower problems and provided the opportunity for professionals to reach the growers with new and helpful information. This cooperation and out-state education preceded the formal organization of the Cooperative Extension Service in 1909.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Horticulture has several related programs listed below: