Wisconsin Dairy Exports Hit $365M Mark in 2025 Amid National Surge

Wisconsin's agricultural exports totaled $2.03 billion in the first half of 2025, with dairy products — including cheese, whey, lactose and milk proteins — accounting for 18% of the volume, according to the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's International Agribusiness Center. This figure marks the third-highest first-half total on record, down just 0.53% from 2024 but 5.4% above the 2021 baseline year for the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports. Jacob Leum, with the Division of Agricultural Development, highlighted the sector's resilience amid softer overall U.S. ag exports, which fell 2.32% in the same period.

Top destinations for Wisconsin dairy included Canada, Mexico, China, South Korea and Japan, comprising 63% of the state's total ag exports. The state ranks No. 1 nationally in exporting specialty cheese, ginseng, cranberries, prepared meat, bovine genetics and mink pelts, with dairy products valued at $1.1 billion in 2023, securing Wisconsin's No. 2 spot behind only California. Nationally, U.S. dairy exports through November 2025 reached $8.72 billion, up 15% from 2024, driven by cheese shipments that jumped 28% in November alone and nonfat dry milk powder rising 18% on Southeast Asian demand.

In Green Bay and Madison processing hubs, companies like those supported by Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin are ramping up for sustained global appetite, with the state's export program aiding firms in navigating international markets. While total state goods exports hit $27.5 billion in 2024 — up 17% from 2014 and supporting over 111,000 jobs — food and kindred products contributed $2.5 billion, underscoring dairy's economic anchor amid challenges like potential tariffs. Wisconsin shipped to 138 countries in the first half of 2025, positioning its dairy farmers for continued growth into year-end.