1. Overview of Wisconsin Agriculture AAE 320: Farming Systems Management
Dr. Paul D. Mitchell
418 Taylor Hall

2. Wisconsin Agriculture
Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics 2015 (for 2014)
In Wisconsin, in 2014, there were
69,000 farms
14,500,000 acres in farms
Average 210 acres/farm
Generated $12.9 billion in cash receipts

3. WI Farms by Annual Sales 2014
Gross Value of Sales
Number
of Farms
% of
Total
Average
Size (ac)
$1,000-$9,999
30,500
44% 66
$10,000-$99,999
21,000
30%
138
$100,000-$249,999
7,400
11%
264
$250,000-$499,999
4,900 7%
418
> $500,000
5,200 8%
1,077
Total for WI
69,000
100%
210

4. WI Farms by Annual Sales 2014

5. Number of WI Farms by Annual Gross Sales 2009-2014
Gross Sales ($1,000’s)
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
$1 - $10
38,800
38,300
37,500
36,800
31,000
30,500
$10 - $100
20,500
20,900
20,400
20,600
21,200
21,000
$100 - $250
9,400
9,000
9,300
9,200
7,500
7,400
$250 - $500
5,500
5,700
5,900
5,000
4,900
> $500
3,800
4,100
4,300
5,100
5,200
Total
78,000
77,000
76,800
69,800
69,000
> $100
18,700
18,800
19,100
19,400
17,600
17,500
> $250
9,800
10,200
10,100

6. Average Acres per WI Farm by Annual Gross Sales 2009-2014
Gross Sales ($1,000’s)
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
$1 to $10 62 63 61 60 68 66
$10 to $100
156
153
147
146
137
138
$100 to $250
287
278
280
272
267
264
$250 to $500
509
491
473
458
420
418
> $500
1,079
1,049
1,047
1,070
1,078
1,077
Total
195
209
210

7. What’s Happening? Some sort of method change in 2013, some big jumps
The number of farms by gross annual sales is fairly constant, but can see slight trends
The number of large revenue farms slowly increasing
The number of small and medium revenue farms slowly decreasing
Lots of little farms, but the number of WI farmers “making a living” is small (10-15%)
Lots of “small” farm households are doing something else to make additional money
Average WI farm size fairly constant at about 200 acres

8. % of Total WI Farm Revenue (Cash Receipts) by Commodity Category 2009-2014
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Animals
63.4
63.6
64.1
60.5
65.6
73.0
Dairy
43.2
46.0
46.5
43.6
46.1
52.4
Crops
36.6
36.4
35.9
39.5
34.4
27.0
Grains
22.4
25.5
28.3
30.1
24.9
19.4
Vegetables
7.1
4.3
4.1
4.0
4.6
3.5
Fruits
2.7
2.2
2.0
2.1
1.9
1.4

9. Wisconsin Is A Major Dairy State (2014)
WI Rank
% US
#1 State
Milk production 2
13.5
California
Cheese, total 1
25.4
Wisconsin
American
18.7
Cheddar
17.4
Mozzarella
25.2
Italian
29.4
Dry whey (food)
32.7

10. Wisconsin’s Place in US Agriculture (2014)
Livestock
WI Rank
% US
#1 State
Cattle and calves 9
3.9
Texas
Milk cows 2
13.7
California
Hogs and Pigs 19
0.4
Iowa
Sheep
1.5
Milk Goats 1
12.1
Wisconsin
Chickens 18
Broilers
0.6
Georgia
Mink Pelts
33.7
Trout, sold > 12''
0.7
Idaho
Honey 15
1.6
North Dakota
Eggs

11. Wisconsin’s Place in US Agriculture (2014)
Grain/Feed Crops
WI Rank
% US
#1 State
Corn for grain 10
3.4
Iowa
Corn for silage 1
12.3
Wisconsin
Oats 2
12.5
S. Dakota
Soybeans 16
2.0
Illinois
Wheat, winter 23
1.2
Kansas
Barley 19
0.4
Idaho
Forage (all types)
10.0
Texas

12. Wisconsin’s Place in US Agriculture (2014)
Vegetable Crops
WI Rank
% US
#1 State
Potatoes, all 3
6.1
Idaho
Dry edible beans 15
0.7
North Dakota
Onions 12
1.1
California
Cabbage (fresh) 8
3.2
Sweet Corn (fresh) 14
1.5
Carrots, processing 1
33.2
Wisconsin
Sweet Corn, processing
21.1
Minnesota
Green Peas, processing
19.5
Washington
Snap Beans, processing
45.8

13. Wisconsin’s Place in US Agriculture (2014)
Fruit Crops
WI Rank
% US
#1 State
Cherries, tart 4
4.0
Michigan
Apples 11
0.5
Washington
Strawberries 7
0.1
California
Maple syrup
6.2
Vermont
Cranberries 1
59.8
Wisconsin
Other minor but important crops in Wisconsin
Ginseng: Missing from list, WI is #1
Cucumbers for pickling
Mint for oil

14. Nationally Important WI Agriculture
Dairy is very important: milk, cheese, whey
Milk cows and milk goats
Field crops: silage, corn, oats, forage
Vegetables: potatoes, processing vegetables (sweet corn, snap beans, green peas, carrots, cucumbers)
Fruits: cranberries, cherries, mint, ginseng
Main Point: Wisconsin Agriculture is more diverse than in many other “ag” states

15. Impact of Agriculture on WI Economy

16. Impact of Agriculture on WI Economy
Economic Impacts of Agriculture in Wisconsin Counties (Deller and Williams)
Agriculture in WI: 12.5% of total sales in state, 10% of jobs, 9% of income
Economic Impact of Specialty Crop Production and Processing in Wisconsin
Specialty crops $6.4 billion in WI economy, about $1.1 billion production, $5.3 billion processing, 35,000 jobs (1% WI’s)
2nd largest US processed vegetable industry

17. Summary
Most WI farmers have small farms and earn most of their income off the farm
The number of WI farmers “making a living” is small (about 15% or 10,000)
Dairy is the most important agricultural production in WI, but WI agriculture is quite diversified, with other important industries
Ag generates about 10% of WI’s jobs and 9% of WI’s income