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Wisconsin export snapshot: dairy leads growth as meat and wood face declines after trade disruption
Summary
State export staff reported dairy export growth in early 2025 while meat and wood sectors fell; officials said China’s restriction on bovine genetics and retaliatory tariffs are key drivers and DATCAP is pursuing alternate markets in Asia.
Ira, director of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, opened the session with a snapshot of Wisconsin’s export performance in the first half of 2025, saying the state’s top 10 products accounted for 68% of exports.
“Dairy is up 12% so far this year, totaling about $533 million,” Ira said, adding that cheese represents roughly 36% of that total (about $192 million) and milk, whey and proteins about 22% ($115 million).
He reported that meat exports are down about 8% (roughly $525 million for the year) and singled out a severe drop in bovine genetics sales to China — down about 77% — after shipments of semen and embryos were halted in February 2025 amid a dispute over bluetongue-related controls.
Crops overall were down about 4%, Ira said, and wood and ginseng exports have also been heavily impacted as several traditional markets reduced orders. He said those decreases reflect a mix of retaliatory tariffs and non-tariff trade barriers at the foreign level.
To respond to the shifts, DATCAP staff are attending trade events and pursuing alternative markets in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and Thailand, and encouraging exporters to use Wisconsin trade resources for market research and trade finance support.
The presentation concluded without formal action; staff encouraged companies with questions to contact DATCAP for market-specific assistance.
