What Is Happening?

1. What Is Happening? Wisconsin dairy herd numbers are declining Dairy Herds * As of November 1, 2003 Source: Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service

3. Wisconsin Dairy Industry Structure in 2002

4. What Is Happening? A look at Eastern Wisconsin Dairy Herd Numbers 4,516 farms 3,187 farms 2,705 farms Dairy Herds Source: Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service

5. In the last 10 years, Eastern Wisconsin has lost 40% of its dairy herds or 180 farms a year! What Is Happening? A look at Eastern Wisconsin Dairy Herd Numbers 4,516 farms 3,187 farms 2,705 farms Dairy Herds Source: Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service

6. What Is Happening? Wisconsin cow numbers are declining Dairy Cows * As of November 1, 2003 Source: Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service

7. Cow Numbers in Eastern WI 351,400 cows 260,800 cows 260,100 cows Source: Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service

8. Dairy Herd Size in WI Source: Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service

9. Dairy Herd Size inEastern Wisconsin Source: Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service

10. Eastern Wisconsin dairy herds are increasing at a rate of 4 cows per year Dairy Herd Size in Eastern Wisconsin Source: Wisconsin Agriculture Statistics Service

11. Why the transition from tiestalls to freestalls? • Improved efficiency: Milk 2-3 times more cows per hour per milker One time per day feeding Less time spent bedding stalls • Improved cow comfort • Improved operator health and safety • Increased production and $ • Improved quality of life

13. Farm Trends • Total number of farms stable at ~75,000 • But: • Fewer dairy farms • Relatively more cash grain operations • Many more hobby/low revenue farms • Major changes in the size structure of farming • Note: “Any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold….during the year.”

14. Manitowoc CountyAgricultural Trends(1988 to 2003) Prepared by Scott Gunderson, Manitowoc County Dairy Agent for the Protecting the Lake Michigan Shoreline5-part Education Series July 21, 2005

15. Manitowoc County Agricultural Trends* Not broken down by county Manitowoc County UW-Extension

16. Manitowoc County Agricultural Trends **Drought years (i.e. low yield/acre) Manitowoc County UW-Extension

17. Manitowoc County Agricultural Trends Manitowoc County UW-Extension

18. Manitowoc County Agricultural Trends ***Reported on a Dry Hay Equivalent basis Manitowoc County UW-Extension

19. Manitowoc County Agricultural Trends* Not broken down by county Manitowoc County UW-Extension

20. Manitowoc County Agricultural Trends* Not broken down by county Manitowoc County UW-Extension

21. Current Agriculture Statistics for Manitowoc County - 2005 • Total Farms – About 1440 • Dairy Farms – 340 • “Grazing” Dairy Farms - <10 • “Organic” Dairy Farms – 4 • Elk and deer farms – 10-15 • Custom Heifer Raisers – 25-30 • Custom Tillage, Planting & Harvesting – About 20 • Tree Farms/Nurseries • Fruit and Vegetable Growers 257,000 acres owned by farmers (68% of all land County-wide) Manitowoc County UW-Extension

22. Other Sources of Information • Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service • 608-224-5012 • www.nass.usda.gov/wi/ • Manitowoc County UW-Extension • 920-683-4168 • http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/manitowoc/ • UW-Extension Center for Dairy Profitability • http://cdp.wisc.edu • Program on Agriculture & Technology Studies • www.wisc.edu/pats/