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United States Department of Agriculture

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Wisconsin Ag News – Annual Dairy Products

Upper Midwest Region - Wisconsin Field Office · 2811 Agriculture Drive · Madison WI 53718 · (608) 224-4848

fax (855) 271-9802 · www.nass.usda.gov

Cooperating with Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

April 28, 2016 Media Contact: Greg Bussler

Cheese Production – Wisconsin: 2011-2015

Year Total cheese1 Total American2 Hispanic Muenster Italian Mozzarella Swiss

-------------------------------------------------------------------------1,000 pounds-------------------------------------------------------------------------

2011 2,635,048 783,292 59,117 50,108 1,360,250 909,961 (D)

2012 2,789,965 830,139 65,580 52,956 1,403,409 951,652 (D)

2013 2,855,881 837,517 70,906 52,982 1,422,393 961 016 33,695

2014 2,912,144 848,879 71,790 57,250 1,459,655 990,654 22,741

2015 3,070,202 909,940 77,197 60,935 1,537,315 1,051,356 16,679

(D) Not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.

 1

Includes cream cheese and other miscellaneous types of cheese. Does not include cottage cheese. 

 2

Includes Cheddar, Colby, washed curd, stirred curd, Monterey, and Jack. 

American Cheese Production by Type –

Wisconsin: 2015

Type Production Percent of total

(1,000 pounds)

American Cheddar ....................

 40-lb block ............................. 224,040 24.6

 640-lb block............................ 267,873 29.4

 Other types1........................... 121,554 13.4

Colby ........................................ 85,371 9.4

Monterey Jack........................... 211,102 23.2

Total American Types ............... 909,940 100.0

1 Includes barrels.

Italian Cheese Production by Type –

Wisconsin: 2015

Type Production Percent of total

(1,000 pounds)

Hard

Asiago .......................... 31,872 2.0

Parmesan..................... 127,135 8.3

Provolone ..................... 200,982 13.1

Romano........................ 29,364 1.9

Soft

Mozzarella.................... 1,051,356 68.4

All other........................... 96,606 6.3

Total Italian ..................... 1,537,315 100.0

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

Million pounds

American and Italian Cheese Production 

Wisconsin: 1991-2015

American Italian
The complete report may be found under Publications on the USDA NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov.

Total Cheese, Excluding Cottage Cheese –

Wisconsin: 2015

Ranges of annual production State 

plants Production

(number) (1,000 pounds

Less than 1 million pounds ................ 35 6,544

1 to 4.99 million pounds..................... 20 55,127

5 to 9.99 million pounds..................... 19 111,479

10 to 24.99 million pounds................. 16 254,926

25 million pounds and over................ 37 2,642,126

Total ................................................. 127 3,070,202

Cheddar Cheese – Wisconsin: 2015

Ranges of annual production1 State 

plants Production

(number) 1,000 pounds

Less than 1 million pounds.............. 38 5,927

1 to 9.99 million pounds .................. 11 19,938

10 million pounds and over ............. 15 587,602

Total............................................... 64 613,467

1 Plant qualifies for a certain range based only on its Cheddar 

production.

Italian Cheese – Wisconsin: 2015

Ranges of annual production1 State 

plants Production

(number) (1,000 pounds)

Less than 1 million pounds ................ 22 4,254

1 to 19.99 million pounds................... 18 118,404

20 million pounds and over................ 23 1,414,657

Total ................................................. 63 1,537,315

1 Plant qualifies for a certain range based only on its Italian production.

Mozzarella Cheese – Wisconsin: 2015

Ranges of annual production1 State 

plants Production

(number) (1,000 pounds)

Less than 1 million pounds.............. 14 2,719

1 to 19.99 million pounds ................ 9 73,524

20 million pounds and over ............. 16 975,115

Total............................................... 39 1,051,356

1 Plant qualifies for a certain range based only on its Mozzarella 

production.

Processed Cheese and Cheese Foods –

Wisconsin: 2015

Year Processed 

cheese

Processed 

cheese foods & 

spreads

Cold pack 

cheese and 

cheese food

-----------------------(1,000 pounds) -----------------------

2011...... 616,076 305,065 39,085

2012...... 614,214 298,241 35,666

2013...... 622,401 295,658 34,443

2014...... 644,814 311,307 36,224

2015...... 665,900 264,920 29,071

Whey Products – Wisconsin: 2015

Year

Dry Whey Total 

lactose

Whey protein 

concentrate 

human food Human food Animal

----------------------- (1,000 pounds) -----------------------

2011 294,202 4,421 188,181 83,003

2012 289,694 3,968 189,523 80,139

2013 302.843 3,539 219,496 102,199

2014 280,339 3,211 237,557 115,002

2015 308,582 4,076 220,921 108,772