Wisconsin farms and agricultural businesses have been busy at work cultivating $88.3 billion in economic activity and more than 413,500 jobs in 2012.
The study comes from a report published by the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Results from the study boast that agriculture is responsible for 11.9 percent of the state’s overall employment and has generated $29 billion and an additional 59,509 jobs in 2012 than in 2007.
Steven Deller, a professor in Madison’s Agricultural and Applied Economics Department and a community development specialist in the UW-Extension program, noted in a statement that while Badgers are proud to hail from the “Dairy State,” it is “important to look beyond dairy.”
“Agriculture is diverse and is likely becoming more diversified across the state,” Deller said in the release. “Other parts of Wisconsin agriculture such as the beef industry, vegetables, breweries and more specialized activities like hops, grapes and wineries are growing in size and importance.”
word count: 164
tags: Wisconsin, agriculture, Steven Deller, UW Extension, UW-Madison, Madison
