Eau Claire, Wisconsin is a hub for the dairy industry, providing numerous advantages to the local community. With 78,900 people employed in the state's dairy sector, it is evident that this sector is a major source of employment and economic stability. In fact, each job in agriculture supports an additional 1.46 jobs in other parts of Wisconsin. Most of the dairy farms in Wisconsin are family-owned, although there are some outside investors involved in certain operations.
Hall's Calf Ranch, for example, is an industrial farm that has been known to spread manure in the water. Despite this, factory farms are still acknowledged for their capacity to modernize dairy production and take advantage of their size. Organic milk production is also on the rise in Wisconsin. A handful of large dairy farms in the Southwest now produce more certified organic milk than the 450 organic dairies in Wisconsin combined.
In the last decade alone, the number of industrial dairy farms in the state has increased by 55%, with 279 farms now operating across the state. These factory farms or mega-farms can house thousands of cows in huge metal buildings. The dairy industry in Eau Claire provides a number of benefits to the local community. It creates jobs and economic stability, while also providing a source of fresh milk and other dairy products to local consumers. Additionally, it helps to modernize dairy production and increase efficiency.
Finally, it helps to support organic milk production and reduce environmental impacts.