Web 57DHYAFZZFLiB March 29 2026   Up to 1 point 2 million trees yearly for Wisconsin Biomass Energy

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Web 57DHYAFZZFLiB March 29 2026   Up to 1 point 2 million trees yearly for Wisconsin Biomass Energy

In this Webisode      0 Up to 1 point 2 million trees burned yearly for Wisconsin Biomass Energy       1 Wisconsin        List of biomass wood burning power stations in Wisconsin         2 Wisconsin Renewable Power Stations          3 Wisconsin Wind Power Stations      4 Wisconsin Solar Power Stations      5 Wisconsin            When trees are cut down in Wisconsin how much wood is burned in Wisconsin biomass power plants?      6 Wisconsin           When trees are cut down in Wisconsin how much wood is burned for home heating or home cooking?      7 Wisconsin         Appleton        Wisconsin does not make as much printing and for writing paper as it used to    Here is why a few local mills still do       8 What is the history of the paper industry in Wisconsin since 1848?       9 The lumber industry in Wisconsin since 1848 has produced a variety of products including        10 What farming methods have been used since Wisconsin Statehood in 1848?        11 Wisconsin         Windicator Newsletter    Windicators    Wisconsin Farming    Insights from the 2022 Census of Agriculture    Main Content

0 RAWSEP View  Up to 1 point 2 million trees burned yearly for Wisconsin Biomass Industry Energy Production     How long could it take to replace this dirty energy with the clean energy sources of wind solar and geothermal with this clean renewable energy reliably stored on batteries for emergencies and this energy available through a smart electric grid to all rural areas of Wisconsin in order to power clean home heating though Heat Pumps that work down to 40 degrees below zero and double as Air Conditioners?      Looking at solutions to the air pollution from indoor residential wood burning and from biomass burning in Wisconsin what is the future of trees as a commodity in Wisconsin if not for wood burning for home heating or cooking or wood burning for biomass energy?    Are living trees still needed as a carbon sink and to produce Oxygen through photosynthesis? Are trees still needed for paper making industries in Wisconsin? Yes.   Are trees still needed for nut and berry production on farms in Wisconsin? Yes.   Are trees still being cut down for Biomass Burning in industries in Wisconsin? Yes.  How much cord wood is used for Biomass Burning in Wisconsin?  Approximately 2 hundred thousand cords.   How many average size trees is 2 hundred cords?   Are Wisconsin farmers generally dependent on growing trees outside of the niche market of Christmas Tree Farms?    Should Christmas Tree Farms continue to produce highly disposable products used only one day of the year when there are alternatives such as artificial trees?        No to the first question.   Wisconsin Farmers are not financially dependent on growing trees for and not dependent financially from selling Christmas Trees to any great extent        No to the second question    Artificial trees should be used one day a year and use of live trees cut down for a short term purpose should not be a tradition that should continue     Christmas trees that end up as logs used for indoor wood burning should not be used     Both the tradition of live Christmas trees cut down and wood burning used in modern homes are modern hobbies that are not needed and that needlessly pollute the air at a time when everyone is now aware of the adverse health effects of wood burning from experiencing the air pollution from wildfire smoke that can travel hundreds of miles and arrive in the yards of neighbors near and far emitting PM 2 point five which produces adverse health effects ranging from cancer to heart attacks and longer term can lead to early deaths       Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization     How much PM 2 point 5 is emitted when burning 200 thousand cords of wood?    The answer from Artificial Intelligence uses calculations based on EPA certified stoves     EPA certification of stoves is questionable      The United Kingdom estimates that their EcoDesign Wood Burning Stoves the cleanest burning wood stoves in the UK emit 450 times the PM 2 point 5 as natural gas burning and those EcoDesign stoves emits 2 point 8 times as much PM 2 point 5 and CO2 as the fossil fuel coal burning     The difference is that wood is designated as a renewable although it is a dirty renewable and coal is a fossil fuel of which there is a finite supply       In the era of the close of the Strait of Hormuz it is more imperative than ever that the United States and the World quickly transition to the clean renewables of Wind Solar and Geothermal for home heating and cooking and charging electric cars and for all other ways we now use fossil fuels      In this emergency it only adds problems to turn for human health and hastening climate change to turn to burning more wood         AI Overview        Final Answer  after calculations below     Burning hundred thousand cords of wood a year emits between 4 thousand and 10 thousand tons of PM 2 point 5 with a likely average of approximately 6 point 5 thousand tons of PM 2 point 5 for a typical mix of residential heating equipment    Based on estimates that a single cord of wood typically requires roughly 4 to 6 average-sized trees      2 hundred thousand cords of wood would equal approximately  8 hundred thousand to 1 point 2 million trees    This figure depends on tree size species and whether branches are used     Average Trees per Cord     Generally, 4 decently sized trees can make one cord    Total Calculation    Density Factors     Smaller trees require more while larger mature trees  for instance 30 inch diameter can yield 1 to 2 cords per tree  Therefore for an average sized tree roughly 1 million trees is a reasonable estimate for 2 hundred thousand cords of wood       AI Overview      The total amount of fine particulate matter PM 2 point 5 emitted from burning  hundred thousand cords of wood is approximately 6 thousand 5 hundred to 14 thousand tons depending on the efficiency of the wood stoves or fireplaces used. Key Data Points for Calculation      To calculate the total emissions, we must establish standard weights and emission factors EF   Weight of 1 Cord of Wood A cord of seasoned hardwood typically weighs approximately 1 point 5 to 2 tons roughly 3 thousand to 4 thousand pounds    Emission Factors         Uncertified or Old Stoves    Approximately 14 point 6  grams per kilogram of wood roughly 29 point 2 pounds per ton         EPA Certified Non Catalytic Stoves    Approximately 8 point 98  grams per kilogram roughly 18 pounds per ton     EPA Certified Catalytic Stoves    Approximately 3 point 38  grams per kilogram roughly 6 point 8 pounds per ton           Open Fireplaces or Pits   Can range significantly but often average 23 point 6 pounds per ton.       Step-by-Step Calculation Averaged    Convert Cords to Tons   Apply Emission Factors      Scenario A Old Stoves or Fireplaces At an average of 40 pounds of per cord common estimate for mixed older equipment the total is     Scenario B Standard Mix Using the EPA recreational factor of 23 point 6 pounds per ton       Scenario C High-Emission Uncertified Using 14 point 6  grams per kilogram approximately 29 point 2 pounds per ton Summary of Impact    Total Estimated Emissions Between 4 thousand and 10 thousand plus tons of PM 2 point 5     Comparative Context: For perspective, 2 hundred thousand cords of wood burned in residential settings can contribute significantly more than the annual exhaust from hundreds of thousands of cars in the same region. Residential wood burning is estimated to contribute nearly 22 percent of winter pollution in the contiguous US. Answer      Burning 2 hundred thousand cords of wood emits between 4 thousand and 10 thousand tons of with a likely average of approximately 6,500 tons for a typical mix of residential heating equipment.    

1 Wisconsin        List of biomass wood burning power stations in Wisconsin         Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization        Wikipedia as of March 29 2026          This is a list of electricity generating power stations in the US state of Wisconsin sorted by type and name    In 2024 Wisconsin had a total summer capacity of 17 point 4 GW through all of its power plants and a net generation of 65 thousand 276  GigaWatt Hour     The electrical energy generation mix in 2025 was 35 point 6 percent  natural gas 35 percent  coal 15 point 3 percent  nuclear 6 percent  solar 3 point 3 percent  hydroelectric 2 point 9 percent  wind 1 point 8 percent  biomass including refuse derived fuel 0 point 1 percent  petroleum and less than 0 point 1 percent  other  

2 Wisconsin Renewable power stations               Wisconsin wind power map                Data from the US Energy Information Administration serves as a general reference    Renew Wisconsin maintains additional data on Wisconsin renewable generation resources   RAWSEP View this includes polluting renewables such as wood burning also called Biomass Burning

Biomass and refuse

NameLocationCapacity
MW		Fuel
type		Year
opened
Ameresco JanesvilleRock County3 point 0landfill gas2004
Bay Front PlantAshland County47 point 0Wood and
wood waste and cofired with natural gas		1952
Berlin LandfillGreen Lake County2 point 4landfill gas2001
Dairyland WTE PlantBrown County1 point 4biogas2012
Dane Community DigesterDane County2 point 0biogas2011
Deertrack Park LandfillJefferson County6 point 4landfill gas2006 2007
FCPC Renewable GenerationMilwaukee County2 point 0biogas2013
Fiber Recovery LandfillMarathon County2 point 4landfill gas2008
Flambeau River PapersPrice County5 point 7wood
wood waste		1982
French Island Generating PlantLa Crosse County16 point 0wood
wood waste
refuse		1940 1948
GL Dairy BiogasDane County2 point 0biogas2013
Green Whey EnergyPolk County3 point 2biogas2013
Holsum DairyCalumet County2 point 2biogas2001 2006
Kaukauna Paper MillOutagamie County32 point 6wood
wood waste		1951 1962
1977
Manitowoc Power PlantManitowoc County44 point 0wood
wood waste		1955 1962
Metro Landfill GRMilwaukee County3 point 2landfill gas2 thousand
Mosinee MillMarathon County48 point 0wood
wood waste		1951 1976
MMSD WastewaterMilwaukee County5 point 0biogas2000 2009
2010
Nekoosa Paper MillWood County12 point 5wood
wood waste		1991
Outagamie Landfill CogenOutagamie County6 point 4landfill gas2007 2016
Pheasant Run Landfill GRKenosha County8 point 8landfill gas1992 1996
2000 2002
Richland CenterRichland County1 point 6biogas2013
Ridgeview Landfill GRManitowoc County6 point 4landfill gas2002 2006
Rothschild Biomass Cogen FacilityMarathon County46 point 1wood
wood waste		2013
Timberline Trail Landfill GRRusk County4 point 0landfill gas2006
Winnebago Landfill GRWinnebago County3 point 9landfill gas2000 2007
2010 2019
Wisconsin Rapids Pulp MillWood County64 point 7wood
wood waste		1968 1991

3 Wisconsin Wind Power Stations

Wind

See also Wind power in Wisconsin

Project nameLocationCapacity
MW		Year
opened
Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy CenterTowns of Marshfield and Calumet
in Fond du Lac County		1452008
Butler Ridge Wind Energy CenterDodge County542009
Cashton Greens Wind FarmCashton Wisconsin at the
Organic Valley corporate headquarters		5 point 02012
Cedar Ridge Wind FarmTowns of Eden and Empire
in Fond du Lac County		682008
Forward Wind Energy CenterNear Brownsville Wisconsin in
Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties		1292008
Galactic Wind FarmNear Waunakee Wisconsin
in Dane County		102012
Glacier Hills Wind ParkTowns of Randolph and Scott
in Columbia County		1622011
Monfort Wind Energy CenterTown of Eden
in Iowa County Wisconsin		302002
Quilt Block Wind FarmLafayette County982017
Rosiere Wind FarmTowns of Lincoln and Red River
in Kewaunee County		111999
Shirley WindpowerBrown County202010

4 Wisconsin Solar Power Stations

Solar

Project nameLocationCapacity
MWAC		Year
opened
Arcadia SolarTrempealeau County5 point 02019
Cashton SolarMonroe County2 point 02019
Cumberland SolarBarron County2 point 52019
Eau Claire Solar GardenEau Claire County1 point 02018
Fennimore SolarGrant County3 point 02019
Flambeau SolarPrice County2 point 52017
Hodag SolarOneida County7 point 52022
Medford DPC SolarTaylor County2 point 02017
New Auburn DPC SolarChippewa County2 point 52018
New Lisbon SolarJuneau County2 point 52019
Rock River SolarRock County2 point 12016
Strix SolarDane County62025
Two Creeks Solar ParkManitowoc County1502020
Tyto SolarDane County62024
Warren DPC SolarSt Croix County2 point 22017

5 Wisconsin            When trees are cut down in Wisconsin how much wood is burned in Wisconsin biomass power plants? Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization        University of Wisconsin Madison        As of March 29 2026            Two hundred thousand cords         In Wisconsin approximately two hundred thousand cords of wood are burned annually as biomass fuel which contributes to about 1 point 5 percent  of the energy used in the United States    This wood primarily comes from forestry operations and is used in various energy production facilities    6 Wisconsin           When trees are cut down in Wisconsin how much wood is burned for home heating or home cooking? Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization        Wisconsin dot gov  and the US Energy Information Administration EIA    as of March 29 2026       Wood and wood derived materials are used in as many as ten thousand products and they are a renewable resource when harvested sustainably    Burning waste wood for fuel eliminates having to put it in landfills which is a significant environmental benefit     In Wisconsin the amount of wood burned for home heating or cooking varies significantly    According to the University of Wisconsin Madison Extension Forestry about two thirds of the forested land in Wisconsin is productive enough to grow commercially valuable trees    The forest products industry consumes almost two thirds of all fuel wood and nearly twenty percent of US homes get some heat from burning wood    The US Energy Information Administration EIA reports that in 2023 about 2 point 1 percent  of US annual total energy consumption was from wood and wood waste with the industrial sector accounting for about 64 percent  of total US consumption of wood and wood waste    

7 Wisconsin         Appleton        Wisconsin does not make as much printing and writing paper as it used to    Here is why a few local mills still do       Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization        Appleton Post Crescent     March 22 2023         There are not as many companies as there used to be that make the kind of paper you would find in a copier at an office    In Wisconsin alone there are only a few paper mills that still produce printing and writing grade paper and some of them are focused on niche products    Over the last couple of decades there has been a general decline in printing and writing papers in an increasingly digital age    As a result some companies have chosen to idle machines or change what they make turning to more promising segments of the paper industry such as packaging and corrugated boxes    These trends have occurred across North America but Wisconsin is one of the states that has really felt the effects Then came the COVID 19 pandemic    At first demand for printing and writing paper continued to slide downhill    But by 2021 it actually saw an uptick and paper shortages followed    The paper frenzy appears to have calmed down in more recent months    Going forward though there is still a need for some places to make printing and writing paper Some facilities in Wisconsin are helping fill that role    Where do we see printing and writing paper in our everyday lives? The first thing that probably comes to mind for people is copy paper    Copy paper is an example of uncoated freesheet which makes up a large portion of the printing and writing grades made in North America   The printing and writing segment also includes glossy paper used for products like magazines and brochures as well as paper used for directories or catalogs that people find in their mailbox    Generally the category covers things that communications happen on and includes birthday cards wedding invitations and books    Which Wisconsin mills still make printing and writing paper and why? There are at least three companies that making printing and writing paper that have mills in Wisconsin    Two of those companies manufacture specialized products which they say show growth    Mativ focuses on premium niche products at Wisconsin mills Last year Neenah Incorporated merged with Schweitzer Mauduit International Incorporated  to form Mativ Holdings Inc    Today the company has two Wisconsin mills    The mills one in Neenah and the other in the Stevens Point area make the colorful paper and cardstock for the Astro brights brand that are sold online and in big box stores    That brand is popular among teachers and crafters as well as businesses looking to create flyers   The facilities also produce fine paper used for marketing and advertising materials    For example the company has made a direct mail advertisement for a new credit card  In the past employees have also made the high end paper for presidential inauguration invitations as well as the 2018 White House Christmas        What effect did the COVID 19 pandemic have? The years of decline in printing and writing paper accelerated tremendously during the pandemic    Early in 2020 lockdowns went into place to curb the spread of COVID 19 and people started working and attending school remotely and they used less paper    That summer Verso announced it would indefinitely idle its paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids citing a decline in demand for graphic paper due to the pandemic as retail sports entertainment and tourism industries reduced their use of print advertising    The following year though when vaccines rolled out and people returned to work and school in person demand shifted in the opposite direction    Retailers and brands also came back with a vengeance sending people catalogs in the mail    When those things happened there was simply not enough inventory or materials available to meet that demand     Part of the reason for the shortages was that so many paper companies had either previously idled machines or switched to making products predicted to have better long term growth    But shipping containers were hard to come by during the pandemic and this affected the import of paper making the market feel really tight    Looking back one could argue that domestic printing and writing producers may have overshot the runway in closing the amount of capacity that they did since they struggled to fill orders during the uptick    Still this increase appears to have been a temporary phenomenon as paper imports have since started to return    Some of the most popular books are printed in Wisconsin    Here is why these companies are getting more work in recent years    What will happen long term? Printing and writing paper demand is not expected to return to what it once was or to keep up with the pace that other segments in the industry such as specialty papers and corrugated cardboard are growing    Rather the decline in demand will continue into the foreseeable future until it flattens out    It is not thought to reach zero though    It may pick up again at some point in the future but it certainly will reach a bottom   We are not close to that bottom yet but close     Meaning not in the next few years    Even so there will still be a need for some companies to continue make printing and writing grades in the future  

8 What is the history of the paper industry in Wisconsin since 1848?       Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization        The paper industry in Wisconsin has a rich history dating back to 1848 when the first paper mill opened in Milwaukee    Initially made from rags straw and waste paper the industry evolved to focus on wood pulp production in the late 19th century    The Milwaukee early papermaking industry was followed by the Beloit area and the Fox River Valley which became the Midwest center for paper production    The Neenah Paper Mill opened in 1865 became the most successful and profitable early mill eventually being purchased by Kimberly Clark    Over the years the industry has seen significant technological advancements and the introduction of new paper products including tissue paper and specialty papers for various applications    Despite some closures and shifts in demand Wisconsin remains a leader in the paper industry producing over 5 million tons of paper annually and employing over thirty thousand people 

9 The lumber industry in Wisconsin since 1848 has produced a variety of products including    Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization       Hardwood lumber Used for furniture flooring and building materials        Plywood A composite material made from layers of wood veneer       Wood products Such as cabinets millwork and doors        Building materials Including pressure treated lumber and other engineered wood products        Custom architectural elements Such as trusses and wall panels          These products have contributed significantly to the Wisconsin economy and infrastructure development    

10 What farming methods have been used since Wisconsin Statehood in 1848?    Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization       Wisconsin State Historical Society        As of March 29 2026    Since statehood in 1848 Wisconsin farming methods have evolved significantly    Initially the state was known for its wheat production making it the breadbasket of America for the first few decades    However as the century progressed farmers began to diversify their crops turning to dairy farming cranberry industry apple and cherry orchards and tobacco production    The introduction of mechanization particularly the use of tractors marked a pivotal change in farming practices leading to a shift from horse drawn equipment to tractor powered machinery    This transition not only improved efficiency but also transformed the rural communities of Wisconsin as farms grew in size and fewer people lived on them    The Wisconsin agricultural landscape remains diverse with a focus on both traditional crops and modern agricultural practices  

11 Wisconsin         Windicator Newsletter    Windicators    Wisconsin Farming    Insights from the 2022 Census of Agriculture    Excerpts edited by Residents Against Wood Smoke Emission Particulates a 501C3 nonprofit organization       University of Wisconsin Extension       April 2024       Every five years the United States Department of Agriculture USDA undertakes a detailed inventory of farming operations across the country    The most recent the 2022 Census of Agriculture aims to provide a detailed snapshot of the American farming economy including information on farm demographics production practices land use and economic trends    Overview of recent trends in Wisconsin farming using the Census of Agriculture    We pay particular attention to the changes since the last Census in 2017 to understand trends in key metrics for Wisconsin agriculture with some references to longer term trends 1997 to 2022    Number of Farms and Dairies       The 2022 Census revealed the continuation of a longer term trend of the decline in the number of Wisconsin farms    From 1997 to 2007 the number of Wisconsin farms was relatively stable with modest declines but after 2007 the pattern of steady decline returned         In 2022 there were 58 thousand 5 hundred 21 farms in Wisconsin a decline of 9 point 7 percent  6272 fewer farms from 2017 point  Over the 25 year period 1997 to 2022 Wisconsin went from 79541 farms to 58521 a loss of 21 thousand and 20 farms or 26 point 4 percent     This rate of decline in the number of Wisconsin farms was faster than the national average which experienced a 14 point 2 percent  decline between 1997 and 2022 or 6 point 9 percent  between 2017 and 2022 point  A more rapid decline continued specifically in the number of dairy operations in the state    In 1997 there were 24 thousand and 65 dairy farms in Wisconsin and in 2022 that number declined by 74 point 2 percent  to 6216 point  The rate of decline in the number of dairy farms appears to be accelerating    The five year average rate of decline over since 1997 was 23 point 5 percent  but the decline between 2017 and 2022 was 31 point 2 percent  with a loss of 2821 dairy farms    Indeed in 1997 dairy farms accounted for almost one in three farms 30 point 2 percent  but that share declined to almost one in ten farms 10 point 6 percent  in 2022 point  The distribution of farms across Wisconsin showed some clear patterns for example the very northern part of the state the North Woods contained a modest number of farms relative to the southern part    Here Florence Iron and Vilas counties each had less than 100 farms whereas Dane Grant and Marathon counties each had more than two thousand farms    On average Wisconsin counties had 824 farms    Given the geographic characteristics of Wisconsin and differences in growing conditions this distribution of farms across Wisconsin is easily understood    The change in the number of farms between 2017 and 2022 appears to be consistent across Wisconsin with a handful of very northern counties that declined at a slightly higher rate    While the decline in the number of farms in Wisconsin could be considered alarming this shift coincided with changes to the distribution of farm size    For example while the number of dairy farms significantly declined over the past 25 years the number of milk cows declined more modestly    While the number of milk cows dropped noticeably between 1997 and 2002 the number of cows actually grew from 2002 to 2017 point  Between 1997 and 2022 the total decline in number of milk cows was 96 thousand 7 hundred 69 or 7 point 1 percent     The average change between Census years was only 1 point 4 percent  which was largely driven by the drop between 1997 and 2002 point  The 2022 Census revealed a break in that trend with Wisconsin milk cows declining by sixteen thousand one hundred twenty three  1 point 3 percent  In the simplest sense the average size of the typical dairy farm steadily increased from 55 point 6 cows per farm in 1997 to 203 point 4 cows per farm in 2022 with the average rate of increase accelerating over time    For example the five year average increase in dairy herd size was 29 point 4 cows 29 point 4 percent  but between 2017 and 2022 the increase was 61 point 7 cows 44 point 0 percent     In other words the rate of consolidation in dairy farming increased    It is important to note that milk productivity per cow steadily increased    In 2017 the average cow produced 23725 pounds of milk but by 2021 they produced 24 thousand 3 hundred 85 pounds per cow    Another method to look at the shift in the size of farming is to explore the distribution of farms by the number of acres being operated by the farm    For example in 1997 the average farm size in terms of acres was 204 but by 2022 that size increased to 236 acres an increase of 15 point 7 percent     By examining the distribution of farms by difference in sizes acres over time we gain a finer insight into the shifting nature of Wisconsin farming    There is a unique pattern in the distribution of farms by size acres that has played out across Wisconsin for a number of years There is growth in the number of small and large farms and a decline in the number of average or middle size farms    In essence there is a hollowing out of the middle in the distribution of farms by size    The growth in the larger end reflects consolidation and the economies of scale and size associated with large farms while the growth in the smaller end reflects growth in specialty foods farms targeting the local foods market and hobby farming      Farm demographics Given that the number of farms declined between 2017 and 2022 it is not surprising that the number of farm operators also decline going from 110347 in 2017 to 105920 point  The median age of Wisconsin farm operators continued to increase going from 56 point 0 years in 2017 to 56 point 7 years in 2022 point  While this increase may appear modest 1 point 3 percent  looking at the change in the distribution of operators by age categories presents a clearer picture of the aging of Wisconsin farmers    Much like the loss of medium sized farms we saw a similar pattern across age groups Growth in the youngest and oldest categories and a decline of those who could be considered middle age    In essence there was modest growth in the number of young operators 1 point 6 percent  increase for 34 years of age or younger and a more noticeable growth in those age 35 to 44 10 point 3 percent  but a decline of 25 point 6 percent  in those that would be considered middle aged 45 to 54    Following national trends the share of farm operators that are women increased    Specifically in 2017 34 point 9 percent  of all Wisconsin operators were women in 2022 the share increased to 35 point 5 percent    Still despite the growth in the share of women farmers relative to men the absolute number of women farmers declined from 38509 on 2017 to 37600 in 2022 point  Women farmers however were full owners of 71 point 0 percent  of the farms in which they were involved as an operator which was higher than their male counterparts 65 point 2 percent  in 2022    While the distribution of women and men operated farms by size followed similar patterns women operated farms tended to be slightly smaller    This was also reflected in the market value of agricultural products sold where the typical male operated farm generated 295 thousand 4 hundred and 6 dollars while female operated farms generated 228 thousand 2 hundred 5 dollars in 2022 point  Of those with internet access 53 point 5 percent  had broadband for example DSL cable fiber optic and 18 point 9 percent  used satellite technology and 4 point 9 percent  still relied on dial up modems which cannot meet the modern demands for connectivity    Cellular technologies and smart phones were a popular method of connectivity and 60 point 0 percent  of Wisconsin farmers with internet access used them    Unfortunately cellular is not always reliable for instance    bandwidth limitations limited coverage data caps reliability and costs or suitable for all broadband connectivity needs    While Wisconsin expects to see over one billion dollars investment in broadband infrastructure through the federal BEAD Broadband Infrastructure Investment Program       There is no guarantee that this will connect all Wisconsin farmers to reliable and affordable broadband internet    types of farms     While Wisconsin is known as the Dairy State unlike many other Midwestern states such as Illinois and Iowa where the row crops corn and soybeans dominate the Wisconsin farm economy is highly diversified    In addition to ranking only behind California for dairy milk production although Wisconsin ranks first in cheese production Wisconsin ranked first in the nation for milk goats corn for silage snap beans cranberries and even mink pelts and ranked second for forage and third nationally for potatoes carrots green peas and sweet corn    In 2022 total revenue from milking cows was 7 point 35 billion dollars accounting for 44 point 0 percent  of total farm revenues but there were only 5676 farms with milk cows or 5 point 1 percent  of all farms    In other words the typical dairy farm had total revenue from sales of almost 1 point 3 million dollars which compares to typical Wisconsin farm which had revenue from sales of 151 thousand 2 hundred 87 point dollars  The second largest single commodity category was sales for corn which were just under 3  point 1 billion dollars 18 point 5 percent  of total farm sales of which 21 thousand and 45 farms 19 point 1 percent  of all farms reported revenues    This means that the typical farm with corn sales had revenues of 146 thousand 9 hundred 78 dollars from corn    The next highest single category was sales of cattle and calves 1 point 76 billion dollars 10 point 5 percent  with 19 thousand 6 hundred 61 farms 17 point 8 percent  reporting sales with the typical farm having sales of 89 thousand 4 hundred 68 dollars followed by soybean sales 1 point 44 billion dollars 8 point 6 percent  with 16 thousand 5 hundred and 9 farms 15 point 0 percent  with average sales of 87 thousand 2 hundred and 3 dollars   It is important to note that a single farm may have multiple commodities for example a dairy farm that also grows corn and soybeans that are sold on the open market    While dairy farms had the single largest sales per farm the second largest sales per farm commodity category were vegetable including potatoes sweet potatoes and melons farmers    There were 3 thousand and 95 farms reporting sales of 763 point 9 million dollars or about two hundred forty six thousand eight hundred dollars per farm    Of the 960 farms that grew berries which in Wisconsin is dominated by cranberries reported 174 point 8 million dollars in sales which means that the typical farm had sales of 182 thousand 1 hundred 39 dollars Poultry and egg production was also a significant part of the Wisconsin farming economy with 5 thousand 8 hundred 34 farms 5 point 3 percent  reporting 7 hundred 80 point 4 million dollars in sales 4 point 7 percent  or 133 thousand 7 hundred 69 dollars per farm    Also included in the Census of Agriculture were firms that were classified as nurseries greenhouses and floriculture farms of which there were 1thousand 5 hundred 53 such farms reporting sales of 274 point 3 million dollars in sales or 176 thousand 6 hundred 58 dollars per farm    While the overall number of farms declined in Wisconsin between 2017 and 2022 one sector that experienced an increase was aquaculture which grew from 119 in 2017 to 172 in 2022 an increase of 44 point 5 percent     Total revenues from aquaculture increased by 59 point 6 percent  going from 13 point 9 million dollars in 2017 to 22 point 3 million dollars in 2022 point  Sales per aquaculture farm increased from 117 thousand 1 hundred 60 dollars to 127 thousand 3 hundred 90 dollars over the 2017 to 2022 period    Another sector that experienced growth in the number of farms is fruit and tree nut farms which went from 1 thousand 2 hundred 14 to 1 thousand 4 hundred 24 or an increase of 17 point 3 percent  and sales went from 31 point 9 million dollars to 53 point 0 million dollars an increase of 66 point 0 percent     While dairy still dominates the growth in these alternative types of agricultural commodities is accelerating the diversity of Wisconsin agriculture    summary The 2022 Census of Agriculture highlighted the continuation of many historical and national trends for the Wisconsin farming economy    Many operators continued to exit and this happened rapidly among Wisconsin dairy farms    At the same time the farms that remained were increasing in size as both the share and number of farms producing over five hundred thousand dollars in annual revenue increased since 2017 point  Still smaller farms those with sales under one hundred thousand dollars accounted for the majority of all Wisconsin farms    Land values in Wisconsin grew 24 point 2 percent  since 2017 which signals positive economic growth in the sector but also presents a challenge for new and beginning farmers to obtain access to capital and land moving forward    The Wisconsin farming economy remained diverse outside major row crop and dairy operations    Wisconsin ranked in the top 3 states in production of cranberries potatoes sweet corn carrots and green peas    In terms of demographics while farm operators remained predominantly white and male the share of women and nonwhite producers increased since 2017 point  In sum the 2022 Census of Agriculture revealed that the shape of Wisconsin agriculture    who farms what they farm how they farm    continued to transform    These trends have important implications for the Wisconsin economy and the demands and support that farmers need    For example the expansion of internet infrastructure can support more technological advances and adoption in agricultural production    Moreover the growth in the number of older farmers emphasizes the future need to support farm succession planning in the state  

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