Agriculture in Wisconsin
ZIP codes in our Wisconsin data
USDA hardiness zones present
Wisconsin is one of the most agriculturally important states in the country, long known by its nickname "America's Dairyland." Farming shapes the state's rural landscape, economy, and identity, from dairy barns across the countryside to specialty crops grown in unique regional soils. For growers and gardeners, Wisconsin offers rich farmland, a strong cooperative extension tradition, and a diverse mix of field crops, fruits, and vegetables.
Farming in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a national leader in dairy production and is especially well known for its cheese, supported by large herds of dairy cattle on farms of many sizes. Corn and soybeans are the leading field crops, with much of the corn grown for grain and silage to feed livestock, alongside significant acreage of hay and alfalfa. The state is also the country's leading producer of cranberries, grown in flooded marshes, and a major source of processing vegetables such as potatoes, snap beans, sweet corn, and green peas, particularly in the central sands region. Specialty crops like ginseng, cabbage, and tart cherries round out a farming character that blends traditional family dairy operations with diverse crop and vegetable production.
Climate and growing conditions
Wisconsin has a humid continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, often humid summers. The frost-free growing season generally runs from about 120 days in the cooler northern counties to roughly 170 or more days in the south, and the Great Lakes moderate temperatures near their shores. USDA hardiness zones range from about zone 3 in the far north to zone 5 in the southern part of the state.
Major agricultural products
- Milk and cheese from dairy cattle
- Corn (grain and silage)
- Soybeans
- Cranberries
- Potatoes
- Hay and alfalfa
- Snap beans, sweet corn, and green peas for processing
- Ginseng
Hardiness zones in Wisconsin
Growers in Wisconsin fall across these USDA plant hardiness zones (by number of ZIP codes in our data):
Local weather & frost dates in Wisconsin
Open any location for its live forecast, frost dates, and planting calendar:
Counties in Wisconsin
Browse local growing conditions, hardiness zones, and weather by county (72 counties):
Market prices & data for Wisconsin
State overviews combine hardiness-zone data from our ZIP database with public USDA market reports and NOAA climate normals. For farm-level decisions, consult your state's Cooperative Extension service. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.