Wisconsin’s Top 10 Agricultural Commodities
In partnership with: Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
1. Dairy Products: $5.4 Billion
As of January 1, 2019, Wisconsin claimed 8,110 licensed dairy farms and 1.27 million dairy cows. In 2018, the state produced 3.37 billion pounds of cheese, accounting for
26 percent of the nation’s total.
FARM FACT: Dairy cows give more than 7 gallons of milk each day, which equals 112 glasses of milk.
2. Cattle and Calves: $1.8 Billion
In 2019, Wisconsin is home to 290,000 head of beef cattle – up 2 percent from 2018 – and although the state is well known for its dairy production, it has nearly 2,000 more beef producers than dairy producers.
3. Corn: $1.4 Billion
In 2018, Wisconsin corn growers harvested 545 million bushels on 3.17 million acres, which is equivalent to 172 bushels per acre. Wisconsin corn is mainly used for livestock feed, ethanol production, exports or food.
4. Soybeans: $912.6 Million
In 2018, Wisconsin farmers harvested nearly 2.2 million acres of soybeans, resulting in a production of 105.8 million bushels of the crop.
5. Potatoes: $311.4 Million
Wisconsin ranks third in the nation in potato production, with farmers harvesting potatoes on 71,000 acres in 2018.4
6. Cranberries: $156.1 Million
Growers across Wisconsin harvested 20,600 acres of cranberries (the state fruit) in 2018, which resulted in a production of 5.5 million barrels. Wisconsin produces 64 percent of the nation’s cranberry crop, making it the top cranberry producing state in the U.S.
7. Broilers: 122.9 Million
In March 2019, Wisconsin produced 167 million eggs, and the reported number of layers (chickens raised to lay eggs) across the state totaled 7.15 million.
8. Hogs: $122.7 Million
In 2018, Wisconsin had an inventory of 325,000 hogs. Grant and Sauk counties have the largest hog inventories in the state. Nationwide, more than 60,000 pork producers market more than 115 million hogs annually.
9. Chicken Eggs: 103.3 Million
In March 2019, Wisconsin produced 167 million eggs, and the reported number of layers (chickens raised to lay eggs) across the state totaled 7.15 million.
10. Hay: $95 Million
Farmers across the state harvested 1.36 million acres of hay and produced 2.95 million tons of the crop in 2018.
*WHAT ARE CASH RECEIPTS? Defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, cash receipts refer to the total amount of crops or livestock sold in a calendar year.
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