Agriculture is still an economic giant in Wisconsin, generating almost $60 billion a year. A report from UW-Madison and the UW-Cooperative Extension found some of the industry's economic strength is coming from unexpected areas.
Even after decades of declining employment, one out of every ten jobs in Wisconsin is still related to agriculture. But a new study shows that job losses are actually stabilizing. In some areas, ag jobs are growing.
Where they're growing is a bit surprising to ag economists like Steve Deller. He co-authored the study. Deller says "it's because of these smaller niche markets that have started to open up. It's the specialty cheese, the organic farmer, the local supported ag, the CSAs."
Wisconsin's number two in the nation for its number of organic farms, but Deller says it's hard to know exactly how many jobs are created by niche markets like organics. He says agricultural micro-firms, businesses that employ from one to four people, are expanding rapidly in the state.
Teresa Engel heads up the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program through the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. She says she's seen support for local food blossom over the last decade. Engel says "right now we've got over 200 farmers' markets and well over 50 community supported ag operations. And within the last 5 to 10 years there's been a major increase in the demand from grocery stores. And also institutions like hospitals and schools and state institutions are really starting to ask for local foods."
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Deller says a big reason for the growth is because consumers have started to push back against mega farms in favor of locally produced foods.
