Wisconsin sees decline in number of dairy farms

MADISON, Wis. – The number of dairy farms in Wisconsin is falling, despite an increase in milk production as commercial farms expand.

Wisconsin Public Radio reports that numbers from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection show the state lost 500 dairy farms last year. Wisconsin had just over 8,800 dairy herds licensed at the beginning of this year.

Steven Deller is a professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Deller says it’s difficult for small-scale dairy farms to be profitable, so the number of commercial farms will probably continue to decrease.

Kevin Bernhardt is a UW-Platteville agribusiness professor. He says fewer farms could hurt rural communities.

But Deller says small producers can tap into the growing interest in local food and specialty crops instead.

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Information from: Wisconsin Public Radio, http://www.wpr.org