By the Numbers: New Report on Economic Impact of Agriculture in Wisconsin

A new report from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Community and Economic Development provides insight on the impact of agriculture on Wisconsin’s economy. Despite depressed prices for farmers, the industry has grown since 2012, primarily due to the growth in food processing. We break down some big numbers from the report here.

7.1

Percent of the Wisconsin economy attributable to dairy

10.3

Percent growth in farm production in Wisconsin since 1963, while the entire state economy has grown by 298 percent

16.4

Percent of the Wisconsin economy attributable to farming

43.5

Percent of agriculture’s economic impact due to the dairy industry

435,717

Total agriculture employment in 2017

$2.9 billion

State and local government revenue due to agriculture

$4.9 billion

Contribution of agriculture foreign exports to the Wisconsin economy

$22 billion

Economic impact of on-farm activity such as food production

$82.7 billion

Economic impact of food-processing activity

$104.8 billion

Agriculture’s economic impact in 2017, representing an 18.6 percent increase from 2012

Source: UW-Madison’s Center for Community and Economic Development