Wisconsin Agriculture: A History Reviewed by Ruth Paget
I bought Wisconsin Agriculture: A History by Jerry Apps on my Wisconsin 2026 vacation, because I am very interested in food production and how its history in Wisconsin forms party of my family history in the state.
My Sawle ancestors immigrated to Wisconsin from Cornwall, England in the 19th century and contended with the various soil types (rocky, marshy or sandy) left by glaciers that once covered 2/3 of Wisconsin 25,000 years ago. The Sawles lived through the agricultural transformations that have taken place in Wisconsin to the present day.
Apps writes that in the 1850s, wheat was the major crop in Wisconsin. It was second only to Illinois in the production of wheat in the US. Apps lists three major reasons to account for wheat losing its profitability in Wisconsin:
-nitrogen-depletion soils
-disease and insect infestation
-emergence of railroads that helped fertile wheat lands in the West reach larger markets
To replace wheat, Wisconsin adopted diversified farming where their state economy did not solely rely on one crop. The three crops that Wisconsin developed for its diversified economy include:
-corn
-oats
-hay
Hay which could be stored in silos to feed farm animals over winter helped pave the way for the dairy industry to develop.
Hops and barley were also grown, which allowed Milwaukee to develop a beer industry as well as craft beers that flourish today in Wisconsin.
Other Wisconsin crops developed include:
-sweet sorghum
-sugar beets
-flax
-potatoes
The dairy industry first began at home when women milked cows, churned butter, and made cheese at home. Cheese production facilities began to be built in the 1870s and the industry continued to grow.
This agricultural infrastructure is still in place and has provided the financial security to develop specialty crop industries such as:
-honey
-hot dogs (Oscar Meyer has its headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin.)
-cranberries (Wisconsin is the nation’s leader in the production of this Vitamin-C rich food)
-apples and cherries
-grapes and wine (Hungarian-born Count Agoston Haraszthy grew his first grapes in the US on the site of present-day Wollersheim Winery before going west to Napa Valley.)
-Ginseng
-Christmas trees
One of the charming aspects of old-time agriculture that persists are the post-harvest dinners called harvest-bees. Silo-bees are also held to celebrate filling up the silo for winter.
Modern agritourism features farmers’ markets, bed and breakfast from stays, and ice cream from Babcock Hall on the University of Wisconsin – Madisco campus.
For readers interested in diversified farming agriculture, US history, and agritourism, Clayton Daniels’ book Wisconsin Agriculture: A History provides much information about how to feed populations in states with extremely cold winters and have some surplus to sell.
By Ruth Paget
-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe's Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books
-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games
-developer of food and beverage knowledge games
-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center
-creator of French travel and culture games
-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs
-family genealogist
-developer of 9 music theory games
