
New findings enhance Wisconsin’s reputation as America’s Dairyland. According to a University of Wisconsin-Madison study, the economic impact of Wisconsin’s dairy industry is bigger than ever, contributing $52.8 billion to the state’s economy. That staggering sum surpasses the combined value of Florida’s orange and Idaho’s potato industries and is on par with the revenues of some Fortune 100 corporations.
The research, which was supported in part by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin (DFW), confirms the importance of our agricultural production and food processing sectors. Data shows the state’s agricultural economic impact grew by 11% to $116.28 billion between 2017 and 2022. Dairy’s impact rose 16% during that period. Dairy remains the leading sector of Wisconsin agriculture, generating more than 45% of the state’s total agriculture activity. Evidence from reports like these helps build appreciation for farmers and confidence in producers.
Global markets with local impact
Teams at the Center for Dairy Research are feeding industry momentum by continuing to innovate. Demand for dairy is strong, both domestically and internationally. In the U.S., per capita consumption is at historic highs, even reaching 42.3 pounds of cheese per person. Developing new products to meet consumer interest in convenience snacks and shelf-stable options that satisfy the world population’s growing need for protein sources paves the way for more growth. DFW’s marketing efforts also keep Wisconsin dairy products competitive in grocery aisles and as global exports.
Wisconsin’s dairy industry acts as a multiplier for local impact. Our supply chain and other interconnected businesses and associations are uniquely integrated into the fabric of both rural and urban communities. From 2001 to 2022, the number of dairy processing companies in Wisconsin jumped from 162 to 242. That's a nearly 50% change. Wisconsin is the top dairy farm state in the nation, and 99% of Wisconsin’s 5,300 dairy farms are family owned.
Making billions more personal
Given the massive scale of Wisconsin dairy’s economic impact, it can be tough to see how individual contributions factor in. Let’s break these billions down. Wisconsin’s dairy industry supports 120,700 jobs, and every dollar generated by the dairy industry contributes an additional 93 cents in revenue for the state. Every gallon of milk contributes $14.25 to the state’s economy. For every pound of cheese, that figure rises to $16.57. Each cow in Wisconsin generates an average of $41,500. These exciting figures confirm that Wisconsin’s dairy industry continues to benefit local communities as leaders innovate and global demand for our nutritious and artisan products accelerates.
Connecting the dots between the clusters of economic activity dairy farms create is part of farmers’ stories. The 2022 data used in these reports validates farmers’ hard work at a time when the rest of the world was still experiencing shutdowns. We can take pride in these numbers, but we can’t rest on our laurels or assume that the average consumer understands the role the dairy industry plays in economic prosperity.
In early 2025, our team at DFW will be sharing these statistics with partners and public officials. Checkoff initiatives use dairy farmer dollars to promote Wisconsin dairy products, both here in the United States and across the world. We are dedicated to building visibility on the dairy industry’s impact at trade shows and community meetings.
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