 AGRICULTURE ECONOMIC
IMPACT IN MARATHON COUNTY
Marathon County Agriculture 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
- 2% 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").
Soils can be grouped
into four categories:
- Gently rolling silty upland loams in the northern and western
areas.
- Gentle to steep
loam upland slopes adjacent to the Wisconsin River Plain
in the central half of the county.
- Relatively flat
sandy soils in the central and eastern areas.
- 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)
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