La Crosse, Wis. – June is Dairy Month, and now is a great time to show our appreciation for dairy farming and all that the dairy industry does for Wisconsin. In our state, agriculture is a way of life and a cornerstone of our economy:
- Agriculture employs 1 out of every 10 Wisconsinites
- The dairy industry contributes nearly 40 percent of all agricultural jobs – that’s almost 150,000 jobs.
- Wisconsin boasts approximately 12,000 dairy farms with over 1.26 million cows, the most in the nation
- Those cows produce 20,630 pounds of milk annually; around 90 percent of that is used to produce cheese
- 99 percent of farms in Wisconsin are family owned
The dairy industry in Wisconsin contributes $26.5 billion a year to the state’s economy, and the average dairy cow generates over $20,000 a year in economic activity.
“Agriculture, particularly dairy farming, is a link to our history and a key to our economic future,” said Bill Feehan, candidate for Wisconsin’s 32nd state Senate district.
To kick off Dairy Month, Feehan will be in West Salem this weekend for June Dairy Days, which runs from Friday through Sunday. Later in the month he will celebrate our region’s dairy farming heritage in Soldiers Grove, Hillsboro, La Crosse, Gays Mills and rural Monroe County.
For more information, visit the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board or Bill’s website.
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