Between 2017 and 2022, the most current year data available, the Wisconsin agricultural production and food processing sectors have increased 10.9 percent.
The study by the UW-Madison Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics also shows that agriculture contributed to a combined $116.3 billion in economic impact in 2022. That’s 14.3 percent of the state’s total economic output.
“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,” says Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Randy Romanski. “Wisconsin is fortunate to be home to a thriving agricultural industry producing and processing quality products for consumers around the world.”
According to the study, Wisconsin’s dairy farms and processors continue to be industry leaders, 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 remains a major employer and is responsible for 353,900 jobs across the state, or 9.5 percent of the state’s workforce.
“This study confirms that diversity is one of Wisconsin agriculture’s greatest strengths,” Romanski says. “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.”
See the study, The Contribution of Agriculture to the Wisconsin Economy: An Update for 2022: https://aae.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Contribution-of-Agriculture-to-the-Wisconsin-Economy.pdf
