Agriculture in Wisconsin

Farming makes up nearly $105 billion of our state’s economy, according to research completed in 2017. That represents more than 16 percent of the state’s total economy and employs over 400,000 people. Without agriculture and the activities related to it, Wisconsin would not enjoy the prosperity it does today.

Wisconsin is a top state in the production of major processing vegetables, including snap beans, carrots, and green peas. We are ranked third in the nation in potato production, as well. We produce more than half of the country’s cranberries – our state fruit – as well as tart cherries.

Finally, we have more dairy farms than any other state, with nearly 6,400 calling Wisconsin home. Those dairies contribute more than $45 billion to our state’s economy each year. We also have over 1,200 licensed cheesemakers-- almost twice as many as any other state!

In 2021, Wisconsin’s exports hit an all-time record of nearly $4 billion. Some of the top items that our state exports include ginseng roots, cranberries, raw fur skins, bovine semen, whey and sweet corn. Wisconsin ranks fifth in the export of cheese—and first in specialty cheeses.

You can support Wisconsin farmers in a number of ways, even without setting foot on a farm! Local farmers grow produce that is sold in local farmer’s markets and grocery stores, depending on what region you live in.

While all food production comes with an inherent environmental footprint, Wisconsin farmers are dedicated to reducing carbon emissions and maximizing resources through improved farming practices that integrate new technologies.

Some of the ways they do this is by improving water quality, maintaining soil health and reducing food waste. Read more about how our farmers are protecting the land in our Environmental Stewardship section.

Wisconsin farmers are working hard to protect our state’s abundant water supply. In fact, they lead the charge through the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program (PLWPG). This program awards funding to farmers who are using innovative conservation practices to improve Wisconsin’s soil health and water quality. Read more about how farmers are protecting watersheds and more in our Environmental Stewardship section.

Farmers in Wisconsin depend on pollinators to grow their crops and produce seed, so it’s important to them to support their existence. In fact, nearly 85 percent of flowering plants, including crops, need pollination to reproduce and about a third of our food supply relies on the help of bees.

Some ways farmers help native pollinators is by growing flowering plants, providing nesting sites and using pesticides responsibly. Farmers can use tactics like Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to ensure only very targeted and minimal amounts of pesticides are used when necessary.

Fun Fact: Cranberries cannot self-pollinate, so farmers have to bring in bees to pollinate the crop.