AGRICULTURE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN MARATHON COUNTY

Marathon County Value & Economic impact Brochure (2 pages, 320 KB)

A brochure published in November, 2004 provides a good overview of the economic impact of the agriculture sector in Marathon County.

According to Wisconsin Agricultural Statistical Service data, in 2002 Marathon County ranked:

• First in the state
  • cultivated ginseng dry root
• Second in the state
  • dairy herds (901) '03 data
  • milk production (1.031 billion pounds) '03 data
  • all alfalfa hay (454,700 tons dry equivalent)
  • corn for silage (502,000 tons)
  • all other dry hay (45,800 tons)
  • barley production (110,400 bushels)

During the robust economic conditions of the 1990's, the total industrial output/sales for Marathon County grew to $8,300,820,804 by 2000. Most sectors of the economy experienced healthy gains, but the on-farm agriculture (farms, greenhouse, forestry, and fishing) and agriculture processing (dairy processing, meat packaging, etc.) sectors stagnated during the same period. Various government and educational agencies (such as UW-Extension) are working to showcase the most profitable and sustainable farming systems, as local agriculture goes through this period of change.

Marathon County agriculture jobs

• 10,427 jobs
• 12% of total Marathon County workforce (85,920)

How agriculture’s $1.24 billion economic impact breaks down:

• $772.4 million includes the sale of all farm products and value-added products.

• $396.5 million in purchases of agricultural inputs and services.

• $78.4 million business-to-business activity.

• 15% of Marathon County’s total economic activity.

Taxes paid by agriculture

• $1.5 million in corporate profit taxes
• $4.8 million fees/charges/other
• $6.8 million in income taxes
• $8.1 million in sales taxes
• $9.8 million in property taxes*

Summary

• Agriculture employs 12% of the total county workforce.

• Agriculture represents 15% of total county economic activity.

• Agriculture generates $30.9 million in tax revenue

* This figure does not include all property taxes paid to support local schools. If it did, the
number would increase dramatically.

MARATHON COUNTY CLIMATE & SOIL

The climate in this part of the state is well suited for forage production and dairying. Average length of the growing season is 120-140 days, with 2,000-2,200 growing degree days (base of 50 degrees). Average annual precipitation is 32 inches (average snowfall is 50-60").

1. Gently rolling silty upland loams in the northern and western areas.

2. Gentle to steep loam upland slopes adjacent to the Wisconsin River Plain in the central half of the county.

3. Relatively flat sandy soils in the central and eastern areas.

4. Organic soils that are nearly level, poorly drained in basins or outwash plains.

Soil Survey Reports For Marathon County - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

Manuscript text & tables (222 pages, 1.3 MB)