As our Governor informs us via press release, the fine state of Wisconsin is a national leader in organic farming, coming in second with 1,222 organic farms covering nearly 200,000 acres of glorious midwestern dirt. I spent a staggering 2.5 minutes Googling the internet to see what State of the Union dared to beat us at organic farming, but I couldn’t find the top state. So let’s just say it’s California – them dirty hippies loves them some organic farming. [citation needed]

Most Wisconsin organic producers sold their products locally, with 56 percent of sales occurring less than 100 miles from the farm. 75 percent of Wisconsin organic sales were to wholesale channels, with farmers markets, stands, and CSAs accounting for only 7 percent. So I guess the biggest buyers are grocery stores?

Organic sales in the state total $132.8 million, including $30.1 million in crops sales and $102.6 million in sales of livestock, poultry and their products. Sixty-four percent of total organic sales in Wisconsin were from milk from cows. Sorry, goats.

Wisconsin organic farms had average sales and production expenses similar to all farms statewide – a little higher on sales and a little lower on expenditures. Completely summing up the accomplishment in totally specific, non-vague language, Governor Doyle proclaims, “Farming is the heritage and the future of Wisconsin, and we’ve worked hard to strengthen and diversify agriculture across the state.”

BAM. Real talk.