Description: This chart shows the rate of decline in dairy farm numbers in Wisconsin over 5 year intervals between 1950 and 2001. It is clear that the most rapid loss of dairy farms occurred in the late 1960s. In the 15 year period between 1970 and 1985 percent decline in dairy farm numbers slowed considerably. However, since 1985 the rate of net losses has accelerated to historical levels in recent years, culminating in a 25 percent decline between 1995 and 2000. The one-year rate of 9 percent for 2001 suggests a continued acceleration of farm numbers decline.
Source: The data come from published statistics compiled by the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service (WASS), a division of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection. Most data are available in an annual WASS publication titled "Agricultural Statistics". For more recent data, visit their web site at: http://www.nass.usda.gov/wi/.
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