This week on “In Focus,” we home in on Wisconsin’s rural economy and workforce.
Amid turbulent costs and weather, farmers and those in the ag industry are facing a number of challenges. This has a ripple effect on small communities across the state, impacting schools, hospitals and more.
Jeff Hadachek, assistant professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discussed the 2026 outlook for farmers. He also talked about the direct impact of the ag industry on local economies.
He explained that agriculture has about a 1.6 multiplier, meaning for every dollar agriculture generates, another 60 cents are invested elsewhere into the economy.