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Updated study shows dairy, agriculture economic impact on Wisconsin

An updated study shows Wisconsin’s total agricultural economic impact has grown.  Patrick Geoghegan with Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin says, “The overall impact of agriculture in Wisconsin has grown from 88 billion in 2012 to 104.8 billion today. Overall growth in dairy, for example, has grown from 43.4 billion in 2012 to 45.6 billion today.”

Geoghegan tells Brownfield the report from the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics and the Extension shows dairy alone now generates 45.6 billion dollars annually.  “Every cow in the state of Wisconsin generates 36-thousand dollars in economic activity which is a pretty remarkable number, but of course, that 36-thousand dollars doesn’t go to the farmer. It goes to the community and the rest of the State of Wisconsin.”

The report says foreign export markets are the primary source of new growth for Wisconsin agriculture. Wisconsin exported over $2.5 billion in agriculture products last year including 451-million dollars’ worth of dairy products.

Ninety percent of Wisconsin’s milk is used for making cheese, and 90% of Wisconsin cheese is sold out of state. 

Geoghegan says Wisconsin crafts more varieties, types and styles of cheese than anywhere else on earth and holds a 48% share of the nation’s specialty cheese category.