Discover Wisconsin’s Top 8 Most Valuable Crops

1. Corn

Wisconsin is a leading producer of corn, with a 2022 harvest valued at $3.4 billion. The state’s primary crop is dent corn, also known as field corn, which is used mostly for non-food applications. Farmers use dent corn for animal and livestock feed, and about 70% of Wisconsin’s dent corn stays in the state to feed chickens, pigs, and cattle. Over 30% of the state’s corn is used in the production of ethanol. One bushel of field corn can produce almost three gallons of fuel!

2. Soybeans

In 2022, soybeans were the state’s second most valuable crop, with a value of $1.6 billion. There are over 11,000 soybean growers in Wisconsin, and the state ranks 14th in the country for soybean production. Wisconsin is a leading exporter of soybeans, with 65% of its crop shipped to other states or countries. 

3. Hay and Haylage

Providing crucial food for the state’s dairy cattle, hay and haylage are crucial for the agricultural sector in Wisconsin. In 2022, hay and haylage were valued at just over $1 billion, while hay — including alfalfa —  was valued at nearly $435 million.

Hay and haylage include cool-season grasses and legumes, such as Kentucky Bluegrass, red clover, and orchardgrass. These plants improve soil by fixing nitrogen along with providing vital food for livestock.

4. Potatoes

Farmers in Wisconsin grow a half dozen different potato varieties with a combined value of nearly $415 million. Wisconsin is the nation’s third leading potato producer, and it grows the most potatoes of any state east of the Mississippi River.

5. Cranberries

Each fall, over 20,000 acres in Wisconsin turn bright red with ripe cranberries, which account for an annual value of nearly $187 million. Cranberries grow in the sandy peat marshes in the central and northern regions of the state. In the fall, farmers flood the marshes, causing the ripe berries to float to the water’s surface, making them easy to harvest.

Wisconsin is the nation’s leading producer of cranberries and produces a harvest of over 4.5 million barrels each year. Additionally, cranberry has been the state’s official fruit since 2003 after a group of elementary school students successfully advocated on its behalf.

6. Wheat

Since the mid-1800s, wheat has played an important role in Wisconsin’s agriculture. Although it is no longer the primary crop for many farmers, wheat production still accounts for an annual value of just over $139 million. 

Wheat farming in Wisconsin started to wane after the Civil War in favor of dairy production. However, wheat remains a staple crop, and Wisconsin farmers grow several varieties of winter wheat that are ideal for baking cookies, bread, and pastries.

7. Sweet Corn

While field corn is meant for livestock and animals, sweet corn is grown for human consumption. In Wisconsin, sweet corn accounts for an annual value of over $71 million. Overall, sweet corn represents less than 1% of all corn grown in the U.S. Farmers sell a portion of Wisconsin’s sweet corn fresh to markets, although they sell the majority of it to companies that process it into food products like tortillas, snacks, and cereals. 

8. Beans

Wisconsin is the nation’s top producer of snap beans, with an annual production value of nearly $60 million. Much of Wisconsin’s snap bean crop is processed into other food products, while a smaller portion is sold fresh to markets. Wisconsin is frequently among the top five snap bean-growing states.