To better understand Wisconsin farm life, PATS researchers asked farmers about the involvement of both the farm operator and spouse in off-farm as well as farming activities, about the use of different agricultural technologies and management practices, and about how they view public policy issues. Although farmers are frustrated by high production costs and low commodity prices, the overwhelming majority of Wisconsin farm operators reported they were somewhat or very satisfied with their family's quality of life, according to Jackson-Smith. The original survey sample of 3,200 farms was weighted to reflect the proportion of different types of farms in Wisconsin. Dairy farms made up roughly 41 percent of farms in the sample. The average Wisconsin farm in the survey operated roughly 250 acres in 1998, although dairy and cash grain operations farmed more land than cattle, hog or other types of farms.
Dairy farming generates more gross farm sales than other types of farms.
As of 1999, few Wisconsin farms are operated as non-farm partnerships or corporations, and contract production of livestock or crops is relatively rare. Two-thirds of farms in the sample rely completely on family members for farm labor. Wisconsin farmers strongly support an agricultural system dominated by family farms. Dairy farms differed from other types of farms in the study in many ways. The average age of farm operators was more than 51 years old, although dairy farmers averaged only 47 years old.