La Crosse Tribune, 10.3.07
Wisconsin is losing 30,000 acres of farmland per year, but the state's agricultural diversity has insulated it against farming downtrends, according to a report Wednesday.
The study by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters
found Wisconsin had nearly 24 million agricultural acres in 1950.
By 2005 that number had dropped to 15 million.
The report found Wisconsin agriculture revolves around a wide
range of animal and plant products, including milk, cheese, meats,
cherries, oats, corn and peas. And farmers are branching out into
specialty operations, such as making cheese or working organic
farms.
As a result, Wisconsin agriculture is more resilient, the report said.
Wisconsin is losing 30,000 acres of farmland per year, but the state's agricultural diversity has insulated it against farming downtrends, according to a report Wednesday.
The study by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters
found Wisconsin had nearly 24 million agricultural acres in 1950.
By 2005 that number had dropped to 15 million.
The report found Wisconsin agriculture revolves around a wide
range of animal and plant products, including milk, cheese, meats,
cherries, oats, corn and peas. And farmers are branching out into
specialty operations, such as making cheese or working organic
farms.
As a result, Wisconsin agriculture is more resilient, the report said.