The Wisconsin agricultural production and food processing sectors have increased 10.9 percent since 2017 and contributed to a combined $116.3 billion in economic impact in 2022, 14.3 percent of the state’s total economic output.
“Here in America’s Dairyland, our farmers, producers, agricultural industries, and rural communities are such an important part of our state’s heritage and tradition as well as our economy and our future, providing 353,900 jobs, contributing $116.3 billion to the economy annually,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “From launching our Wisconsin Farm Support Program in 2020 to working to increase our state’s agricultural exports to investing in safe, reliable roads to get from point A to point B, we’ve been hard at work to bolster this vital industry for the past five years, and we will continue our work to strengthen Wisconsin’s agriculture industry for years to come.”
The Contribution of Agriculture to the Wisconsin Economy: An Update for 2022 is now available here. This study, completed by the UW-Madison Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences in collaboration with UW-Extension, provides an economic accounting of Wisconsin’s agricultural industry. According to the study, Wisconsin’s dairy farms and processors continue to be an industry leader, contributing $52.8 billion annually to the state’s economy. Dairy processing is a significant contributor to this economic impact. The study further states that Wisconsin agriculture also remains a major employer and is responsible for 353,900 jobs across the state, or 9.5 percent of the state’s workforce.
“I am pleased that the economic impact of Wisconsin agriculture is growing due to the hardworking and innovative farmers and food processors across the state,” said DATCP Secretary Romanski. “Wisconsin is fortunate to be home to a thriving agricultural industry producing and processing quality products for consumers around the world. This study confirms that diversity is one of Wisconsin agriculture’s greatest strengths. Anchored by the dairy industry, Wisconsin agriculture is well-positioned for the future with its leadership in cranberries, snap beans for processing, corn for silage, and more.”
Fast facts from the report:
- “All agriculture”, combined on-farm and food processing, contributes $116.3 billion (14.3% of the state total) to industrial sales or revenues, 353,900 jobs (9.5% of the state total), $21.2 billion to labor income (8.7%), and $37.8 billion (9.4%) to total income.
- On-farm activity contributes $30.5 billion to industrial revenue (3.7% of the state total), 143,690 jobs (3.9%), $6.4 billion to labor income (2.6%), and $13.7 billion to total income (3.4%).
- Food processing, including beverages, contributes $107 billion to industrial revenues (13.1% of state total), 298,400 jobs (8.1%), $18.7 billion to labor income (7.7%), and $32.4 billion to total income (8.1%).
- Dairy, both on-farm and processing (which is dominated by cheese production), contributes $52.8 billion to total industrial revenues or sales (6.5% of state total), 120,700 jobs (3.3%), $7.9 billion in labor income (3.2%) and $13.7 billion in total income (3.4%). It is important to note that dairy processing accounts for much of the contribution of dairy.
- “All agriculture” in Wisconsin contributes 17 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (MMTCO2eq) in greenhouse gas emissions or 14% of statewide emissions. Approximately 7 MMTCO2eq are associated with dairy production in the state.
