The Magic of Wisconsin Lakes – The Ranking of Wisconsin Lakes

There are many reasons people fall in love with Wisconsin lakes. Spectacular sunrises and sunsets, good fishing, a tour of the water in a favorite boat, a beautiful backdrop to enjoy scenery and explore nature, a place to reflect or just get away from it all. With more than 15,000 Wisconsin lakes, there are many types and sizes of lakes all with their own unique character and natural assets.

Ranking the Lakes in Wisconsin

The clearest lakes aren’t necessarily the healthiest.  An extremely clear lake may lack the plant life needed to support a robust fishery. Ecologically balanced lakes are more important: those with a healthy mix of native plants, forested shores, minimum runoff coming into them, a good fishery and diverse wildlife.  

Dodge County’s Fox Lake is the most challenged lake in the state, because of  its high phosphorus level and poor native plant community. Farms with 400 and 500 dairy cows dot its watershed and industrial waste is being spread in its backyard. The lake underwent a restoration that held for a while, but it has relapsed.  

Wisconsin’s Clearest Lakes

Black Oak Lake, Vilas County (30.8 feet of visibility)
Blue Lake, Oneida County (29 feet)
Bardon (Whitefish) Lake, Douglas County (26.3 feet)
Lee Lake, Oneida County (26.1 feet)
Upper Eau Claire Lake, Bayfield County (25.3 feet)
Fence Lake, Vilas County (25.1 feet)
Pine Lake, Waukesha County (24.3 feet)
 Stone Lake, Washburn County(24.0 feet)
Bond Lake, Douglas County (22.8 feet)
Wind Pudding Lake, Oneida County (22.8 feet)
Source: Based on water clarity data provided by the UW-Extension Lakes Program.
 
Wisconsin’s Healthiest Lakes

Lakes Owen Lake, Bayfield County.
Dorothy Lake, Chippewa County.
East Ellerson Lake, Vilas County
Burnt Wagon Lake, Chippewa County
Bond Lake, Douglas County.
Middle lake of Lauderdale Lakes, Walworth County.
Montgomery Lake, Kenosha County
Lulu Lake, Pleasant Lake and Wandawega Lake in Walworth County
Gilbert Lake and Lowe Lake in Washington County
Little Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County
Pine Lake, Waukesha County
Max Lake, Stormy Lake, Smokey Lake, Black Oak Lake, North Twin Lake, Aurora Lake, Little John Lake and Vista Lake in Vilas County.
Source: Selected by Wisconsin DNR lake experts. 
 
Wisconsin’s Murkiest Lakes

Tainter Lake, Dunn County (0.6 feet of visibility)
Fox Lake, Dodge County (0.83 feet)
Beaver Dam, Dodge County (1.08 feet)
Round Lake, Chippewa County (1.40 feet)
Mason Lake, Adams County (1.50 feet)
Petenwell Lake, Adams County (1.50 feet)
Park Lake, Columbia County (1.50 feet)
Ludden Lake, Iowa County (1.50 feet)
Lake Tomah, Monroe County (1.50 feet)
Dexter Lake, Wood County (1.50 feet)
Source: Based on July-August water clarity data provided by the UW-Extension Lakes Program. 

Wisconsin’s Biggest Lakes
  
1. Lake Winnebago, Fond du Lac County, among others, 137,708 acres.
2. Petenwell Lake, Adams/Wood counties, 23,040 acres (The state’s largest man-made lake was created in 1948 by damming the Wisconsin River at Neceda.)
3. Chippewa Lake (part of the Chippewa Flowage), Sawyer County, 15,300 acres.
4. Poygan Lake, Winnebago County, 14,102 acres.
5. Castle Rock Flowage, Juneau County, 13,955 acres.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin lakes inventory.
 
Wisconsin’s Deepest Lakes

1.Lake Wazee, the former Jackson County iron mine quarry, 350 feet.
2.Green Lake, Green Lake County, 236 feet.
3.Redgranite Quarry, Waushara County, 163 feet.
4.Lake Geneva, Walworth County, 135 feet.
5. Lohrville Quarry, Waushara County,120 feet.
Source: Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin lakes inventory.
 
Most Popular Lake Names

Mud Lake, 116
Bass Lake, 82
Long Lake, 59
Spring Lake, 45
Lost Lake, 42
Source: Wisconsin DNR  

Top Ten Public Enemies

1. Eurasian Water Milfoil, 479 lakes affected
2. Rusty Crawfish, 456 lakes
3. Curly Pondweed, 307 lakes
4. Chinese Mystery Snail, 217 lakes
5. Zebra Mussels, 121 lakes
6. Banded Mystery Snail, 105 lakes
7. Hybrid Milfoil, 28 lakes
8. Rainbow Smelt, 21 lakes
9. Spiny Water flea, 7 lakes
10. Japanese Mystery Snail, 3 lakes
Source: Wisconsin DNR inventory  

Wisconsin Lakes’s Top Ten Fishing Spots

Wisconsin ranks No. 2 nationally in the number of days of fishing by nonresidents and the number of nonresident anglers – nearly 400,000. Only Florida ranks higher – and it has an ocean! Some 1.4 million licensed anglers fished Wisconsin waters in 2010, catching an estimated 88 million fish. The most frequently caught were: panfish, bass, walleye, northern pike, trout, catfish and muskie. In all, 165 species are found in the state. 

1. Chippewa Flowage, Hayward: One of the largest lakes in the state, known for its muskie fishing.
2. Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh: Wisconsin’s largest lake is known nationwide for its tremendous walleye fishery and winter sturgeon spearing season.
3. Lake Poygan, Winneconne Lake and Lake Butte des Morts, Oshkosh: Connected to Lake Winnebago, these lakes have quality walleye and bass.
4. Petenwell Flowage, Wisconsin Rapids: Part of the Wisconsin River system, the area is known for its muskie fishing.
5. Eagle River Chain, Eagle River: Part of the world’s largest chain of lakes (in number of lakes), this popular destination is known for its diverse fishery, which includes muskie and walleye.
6. Mississippi River (all of Wisconsin that borders it): A diverse and robust fishery holding hundreds of species of fish, most notably bass and walleye.
7. Green Bay (part of Lake Michigan), Green Bay: Known nationwide for its trophy-sized walleye and up-and-coming trophy muskie fishery.
8. Chequamegon Bay, Ashland: One of Lake Superior’s premier areas for smallmouth bass, the bay also holds salmon, trout and walleye.
9. Shawano Lake, Shawano: A great lake for bass, walleye and muskie.
10. Three Lakes Chain, Three Lakes: A very diverse fishery featuring walleye, bass and muskie, with numerous trophy fish of all species.
Source: Information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Survey and the American Sportfishing Association. Top ten picks by Steve Swierczynski, research director for Rhinelander- based Fishing Hot Spots Inc.  
 
Wisconsin’s Best Swimming Spots

What makes a great swimming hole? A sandy beach, a hard-bottom lake with clear water and public access. We asked local officials and DNR lakes experts to help us indentify the best in each county (listed geographically):

Southeast Milwaukee County: Upper Kelly Lake
Waukesha County: Pretty Lake, Silver Lake and Ottawa Lake
Waukesha-Jefferson County: Golden Lake
Washington County: Eastern bays of Big Cedar Lake, Erler Lake, Little Cedar Lake, Pike Lake and Silver Lake
Racine County: Browns Lake
Kenosha County: Lily Lake, Powers Lake and Silver Lake
Walworth County: Rock and Pleasant Lakes and Big Foot Beach on Lake Geneva
North and Northeast
Vilas County: Silver Lake Beach and Park, Little Star Lake Park and Beach, Crystal Lake Park and Beach, and Black Oak Lake Park and Beach
Oneida County: Two Sisters Lake, Clear Lake, Sugar Camp Lake, Lake Minocqua and Buck Lake
Marinette County: Lake Noquebay and Timms Lake
Oconto County: Boot Lake and Bass Lake
Langlade County:Jack Lake and Summit Lake
Lincoln County: Pesobic Lake, Tug Lake, Bass Lake and Seven Island Lake
Door County: ClarkLake

North Central

Waushara County: Little Silver Lake
Waupaca County: Shadow Lake
Portage County: Sunset Lake
Jackson County: Wazee Lake
Wood County: Lake Wazeecha
Adams County: Jordan Lake, Crooked Lake, Wolf Lake, Parker Lake and Deep Lake Marquette County: Pleasant Lake
Columbia County: Silver Lake in Portage

East Central

Sheboygan County: Crystal Lake and Elkhart Lake
Fond du Lac County: Mauthe Lake and Wolf Lake
Winnebago County: Lake Winneconne and Lake Winnebago
Southwest
Bayfield County: Twin Bear Lake and Lake Owen
Douglas County: Lake Nebagamon and Dowling Lake
Burnett County: Devils Lake
Washburn County: Shell Lake
Sawyer County: Round Lake
Barron County: Silver Lake
Polk County: Balsam Lake
Chippewa County: Round Lake in Samson
Price County: Elk Lake and Solberg Lake
Taylor County: Sackett Lake

If you are thinking about buying waterfront property in Wisconsin,  A little time invested in learning about waterfront living will pay back sizable dividends in matching your expectations to the realities.

Click here to find out more about WISCONSIN LAKE PROPERTY

If you are thinking about buying waterfront property in the Lake Country of Waukesha County in Wisconsin call LISA BEAR – REAL ESTATE IN WAUKESHA COUNTY!

Check out the MLS for homes for sale: www.wihomes4sale.com

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REMAX REALTY CENTER, PROSPECT MORTGAGE and OCONOMOWOC ENTERPRISE 

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Welcome to Wisconsin Real Estate with Lisa Bear

Thank you for visiting.  Please feel free to contact me for any of your real estate needs including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home if you are a buyer. My real estate focus in the  Waukesha County, Milwaukee County, Lake Country, Jefferson County, Dodge County and Washington County areas.  I have my IRES designation (International Real Estate Specialist) so I can assist you with all your real estate needs in Wisconsin, the USA or anywhere in the WORLD!

When you are seriously looking or just browsing at real estate in Wisconsin, I am a great resource to help you with all your needs and questions, whether a first time home buyer, relocating to or from the beautiful LAKE COUNTRY area, looking to invest or explore foreclosure opportunities or just thinking ahead to the future.

Lisa Bear of RE/MAX (262-893-5555) is an experienced real estate agent in Waukesha County and the entire Milwaukee Metro area including:

The prospering communities of Waukesha County including Delafield, Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Waukesha, Sussex, Wales, New Berlin, Dousman, North Prairie, Mukwonago, Chenequa, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Okauchee, Eagle, Muskego and Merton.

Great municipalities in Milwaukee County including Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Hales Corners, Greenfield, Glendale, Franklin, Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Greendale, Shorewood, Oak Creek, St. Francis, West Allis and Whitefish Bay.

The hometown favorites of Washington County, Jefferson County and Dodge County including Watertown, Hartford, West Bend, Germantown, Jackson, Richfield, Ashippun, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Slinger and Erin.

Real Estate in Wisconsin is an excellent investment!

Check out the MLS for homes for sale: www.wihomes4sale.com

Whats happening in Real Estate in Hartland, Waukesha County, WI?

What’s Happening in Real Estate in HARTLAND,Waukesha County? WI Realtor,Lisa Bear, Gives You The Real Estate Activity For HARTLAND, WI For the Last 30 Days: Real Estate In Waukesha County 

 

My name is Lisa Bear of Remax. My market report gives you the real estate activity for HARTLAND for the last 30 days. HARTLAND is located 20 miles west of Milwaukee, in the heart of southeastern Wisconsin’s beautiful Lake Country,(there are twelve lakes within a five mile radius). The Village of Hartland boasts small town charm and a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Milwaukee Magazine rated Hartland as the #1 suburb in the Milwaukee Metro area.

The following MLS information is for the last 30 days from 5/28/12 to 6/28/12. Lisa Bear Gives You The Real Estate Activity For HARTLAND, WI For the Last 30 Days: Real Estate In Waukesha County, WI

In the HARTLAND,Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market 15 homes sold; 5 were listed and sold by the same company, and 10 were sold by co-brokes.

In the HARTLAND, Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 20 new listings.

In the HARTLAND,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 7 pending listings.

In the HARTLAND,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 0 withdrawn listings.

In the  HARTLAND, Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 0 canceled listings.

In the HARTLAND ,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 8 expired listings.

In the HARTLAND,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 2 back on market listings.

In the HARTLAND, Waukesha County,Wisconsin Real Estate market there were 10 extended listings.

In the HARTLAND ,Wisconsin Real Estate market there are 114 currently active listings.

 The average price for a home SOLD was $363,233.

If you are in the market for to buy or sell a home  in Waukesha County, or for any reason you are looking for homes for sale in Waukesha County, Wisconsin you could not find a better time to purchase.

Welcome to Wisconsin Real Estate with Lisa Bear

Thank you for visiting.  Please feel free to contact me for any of your real estate needs including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home if you are a buyer. My real estate focus in the  Waukesha County, Milwaukee County, Lake Country, Jefferson County, Dodge County and Washington County areas.  I have my IRES designation (International Real Estate Specialist) so I can assist you with all your real estate needs in Wisconsin, the USA or anywhere in the WORLD!

When you are seriously looking or just browsing at real estate in Wisconsin, I am a great resource to help you with all your needs and questions, whether a first time home buyer, relocating to or from the beautiful LAKE COUNTRY area, looking to invest or explore foreclosure opportunities or just thinking ahead to the future.

Lisa Bear of RE/MAX (262-893-5555) is an experienced real estate agent in Waukesha County and the entire Milwaukee Metro area including:

The prospering communities of Waukesha County including Delafield, Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Waukesha, Sussex, Wales, New Berlin, Dousman, North Prairie, Mukwonago, Chenequa, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Okauchee, Eagle, Muskego and Merton.

Great municipalities in Milwaukee County including Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Hales Corners, Greenfield, Glendale, Franklin, Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Greendale, Shorewood, Oak Creek, St. Francis, West Allis and Whitefish Bay.

The hometown favorites of Washington County, Jefferson County and Dodge County including Watertown, Hartford, West Bend, Germantown, Jackson, Richfield, Ashippun, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Slinger and Erin.

Real Estate in Wisconsin is an excellent investment!

 

 “HELPING YOU MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”

Check out the MLS for homes for sale: www.wihomes4sale.com

Pine Lake, Waukesha County – One of Wisconsin’s Great Lakes

PINE LAKE, WAUKESHA COUNTY Wisconsin Lakes Pine Lake Surface area – 698 acres Pine Lake Shorelength – 6.7 miles Pine Lake Max depth – 85 feet Pine Lake Mean depth – 39 feet Pine Lake Water color – clear Pine Lake lake type – spring Pine Lake Littoral bottom type- mostly gravel Pine Lake FISH – walleye, northern pike, bass and panfish Accessibility – ramp with parking on north shore, trailer launch If you are headed to Waukesha County, and looking to fish Pine Lake, plan to fish early, around 3:30am, as 18 parking spots are all taken by 4am.  Boaters and water skiers tend to churn up on summer weekends, so it might be best to fish at night or during the week.  Lake Access Fees Annual Lake Access Sticker $75.00 Additional Sticker (for vehicle registered at same residence, maximum of one allowed.) $37.00

Welcome to Wisconsin Real Estate with Lisa Bear Thank you for visiting.  Please feel free to contact me for any of your real estate needs including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home if you are a buyer. My real estate focus in the  Waukesha County, Milwaukee County, Lake Country, Jefferson County, Dodge County and Washington County areas.  I have my IRES designation (International Real Estate Specialist) so I can assist you with all your real estate needs in Wisconsin, the USA or anywhere in the WORLD! When you are seriously looking or just browsing at real estate in Wisconsin, I am a great resource to help you with all your needs and questions, whether a first time home buyer, relocating to or from the beautiful LAKE COUNTRY area, looking to invest or explore foreclosure opportunities or just thinking ahead to the future.  Lisa Bear of RE/MAX (262-893-5555) is an experienced real estate agent in Waukesha County and the entire Milwaukee Metro area including: The prospering communities of Waukesha County including Delafield, Waukesha, Oconomowoc, Pewaukee, Waukesha, Sussex, Wales, New Berlin, Dousman, North Prairie, Mukwonago, Chenequa, Menomonee Falls, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Okauchee, Eagle, Muskego and Merton.  Great municipalities in Milwaukee County including Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Hales Corners, Greenfield, Glendale, Franklin, Bayside, Brown Deer, Cudahy, Fox Point, Greendale, Shorewood, Oak Creek, St. Francis, West Allis and Whitefish Bay.  The hometown favorites of Washington County, Jefferson County and Dodge County including Watertown, Hartford, West Bend, Germantown, Jackson, Richfield, Ashippun, Lake Mills, Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Slinger and Erin. Real Estate in Wisconsin is an excellent investment!    “HELPING YOU MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”

Check out the MLS for homes for sale: www.wihomes4sale.com

Time to start thinking SUMMER LAKE HOMES in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lake homes

Wisconsin, Waukesha County Lake Homes are as beautiful as can be. As I was watching the water at my broker opens today I could not help but think how beautiful lake living and the lake homes for sale in Wisconsin are surely waiting for you to enjoy.

The weather is great, everything is starting to bloom, and the water is as clear as can be with all Waukesha County Lake Property. If you are wanting to sell your lake property we have buyers and if you are a buyer for Wisconsin Lake Homes, Waukesha County Lake homes we welcome the chance to show you these wonderful properties. Time to start thinking summer lake homes in Wisconsin.  Summer is here  and you could be in your new lake property.

The reason it’s a great idea to start buying a lake home now and finding one that you enjoy is multi fold; you will be in the property by summer and really enjoying the lake and all the activity it offers, you will see the yards as they are now and from there everything just comes to life, and the rates, selection, and prices will never be this wonderful again. I would like to recommend to you to search the MLS per the link below and save your searches.

Further, if you would it helps me out if you fill out the dream home finder below so I can find you one of the perfect lake homes for sale in Waukesha County. Wisconsin Lake homes are beautiful and now is the time to get me looking for that perfect one for you. See you on the lake!

Check out the MLS for homes for sale: www.wihomes4sale.com 

Wisconsin Real Estate – Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County, Jefferson County, Dodge County, Washington County, Milwaukee County or any county in Wisconsin. Real Estate is an excellent investment!
When you are looking at buying a Waukesha county home , real estate agent, finding a Waukesha real estate agent, finding a Delafield, Chenequa, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, Hartland, Waukesha, Wales, Mukwonago, Wales,New Berlin, Brookfield, Dousman, Eagle or any other of the great municipalities in Waukesha County,Wisconsin.

If looking for LAKE COUNTRY LIVING on one of Waukesha County’s great lakes: Nagawicka, Pewaukee, Pine, Beaver, Okauchee, Moose, North, Oconomowoc,I would be glad to help you in any relocation to Waukesha County, or help in buying a home in Waukesha County, or selling a home in Waukesha County. I strongly encourage any seller that is looking to market their property this year to get a sound feeling for what it is worth. Real estate in Waukesha County, Real Estate in Wisconsin is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding.

When you are looking at buying a Jefferson County home , or DODGE County real estate agent, finding a Watertown real estate agent, finding a Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Fort Atkinson, Ixonia, Lake Mills, Hartford, Ashippun, Slinger, Beaver Dam,or any other of the great municipalities in Jefferson County or Dodge,Wisconsin.

Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County, JEFFERSON County, Washington County, Dodge County, Milwaukee County. Real Estate in Waukesha County is an excellent investment!

262-893-5555 Office/Cell

888-893-5534

Direct Fax

 
Proudly Serving Southcentral and Southeastern Wisconsin with Referrals from my Clients
 
Look for properties across Wisconsin on MLS at http://www.wihomes4sale.com

 

 

 

 “HELPING YOU MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION”

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Check out the MLS for homes for sale: www.wihomes4sale.com

Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County, Jefferson County, Dodge County, Washington County, Milwaukee County or any county in Wisconsin. Real Estate is an excellent investment!

When you are looking at buying a Waukesha county home , real estate agent, finding a Waukesha real estate agent, finding a Delafield, Chenequa, Pewaukee, Oconomowoc, Hartland, Waukesha, Wales, Mukwonago, Wales,New Berlin, Brookfield, Dousman, Eagle or any other of the great municipalities in Waukesha County,Wisconsin.

 If looking for LAKE COUNTRY LIVING on one of Waukesha County’s great lakes: Nagawicka, Pewaukee, Pine, Beaver, Okauchee, Moose, North, Oconomowoc,I would be glad to help you in any relocation to Waukesha County, or help in buying a home in Waukesha County, or selling a home in Waukesha County.

 I strongly encourage any seller that is looking to market their property this year to get a sound feeling for what it is worth.

Real estate in Waukesha County is now an excellent investment, prices of superb, selection is great, and the rates are outstanding. When you are looking at buying a Jefferson County home , or DODGE County real estate agent, finding a Watertown real estate agent, finding a Jefferson, Johnson Creek, Fort Atkinson, Ixonia, Lake Mills, Hartford, Ashippun, Slinger, Beaver Dam,or any other of the great municipalities in Jefferson County or Dodge,Wisconsin.

 Please feel free to call me for any of your real estate needs, including an online market if you are a seller, or finding a home in Waukesha County, JEFFERSON County, Washington County, Dodge County, Milwaukee County. Real Estate in Waukesha County is an excellent investment!

Check out the MLS for homes for sale: www.wihomes4sale.com

Check out the MLS for homes for sale: www.wihomes4sale.com

Farming is alive and well in Lake Country

 Local farmers say the region with a rich farming history has a good future

By Kelly Smith

Posted: April 30, 2012

Todd Ponath/tponath@jcpgroup.com

Dave Morris at his Hartland Farm.

 

An expanding world food market, a shrinking American dollar, and The Great Recession have helped pump new life into farming in Lake Country – perhaps even preserving it.

An increasing consumer demand for locally grown meat and produce, along with a rising number of local farmers markets and co-op arrangements, have provided Lake Country farmers with new opportunities to market directly to consumers in a Wisconsin-Illinois market of more than three million people.
“The ag economy is as strong as I have seen it,” said Dave Morris, whose family owns about 180 acres in the City of Delafield and leases another approximately 800 acres scattered through the region.

Although 25 percent of the land in Waukesha County is still used for agricultural purposes, many thought only a few farms would survive because real estate developers were paying inflated prices to gobble up farms in the 1990s and early 2000s.

That came to a screeching halt in 2007 when the Great Recession struck and the housing bubble burst. Developers who paid those inflated prices cannot find builders for new homes, and they cannot sell the land, either.

“There are a couple of subdivisions that we are farming because there is nothing else to do. The developer isn’t able to do anything with the land, and he can’t sell it,” according to Rob Schuett of Mukwonago, who farms about 1,000 acres in southern Waukesha County.

“I know one real estate developer who had to return hundreds of millions of dollars in land back to the banks,” added Lake Country real estate developer Jim Siepmann.

Siepmann acknowledged that his company has about 1,000 acres being leased to farmers because the land “is not going to be developed for a while.”

Meanwhile, commodity and beef prices have been climbing because of an increased world demand for American food products at a time when the value of the American dollars has been shrinking.
“People in the world need food. In the United States, the one thing we can produce very economically is food,” according to Morris.

“China and India are areas in the world where there is a rapidly growing middle class. There has been a tremendous food vacuum there. Now, more and more people there want to eat a healthier diet,” explained John Koepke of the Town of Oconomowoc, who farms nearly a thousand acres in the northwest corner of Waukesha County and raises more than 300 dairy cows.

“There has been a tremendous demand for meat and dairy exports. The weaker (American) dollar hasn’t hurt either, which makes our products affordable to foreign markets,” he said.
“The state of the farm economy generally and locally is very good,” Koepke concluded.
But there are exceptions.

Not everything is rosy

Mike Fryda, who owns a 30-acre dairy farm wedged between a stone quarry and a gun club in the Town of Lisbon, says the state of his farm economy is “not very good.”
“Milk prices have gone down, while the commodity prices have gown up,” said Fryda, who leases another 360 acres of corn, soy beans and wheat.
Fryda said the price for his milk has dropped nearly $6 per hundredweight. The U.S. Department of Agricultural is predicting milk prices will be at least $3.10 per hundredweight lower this year than in 2008. But agriculture fared better than the rest of the economy in 2011 and will likely do so again in 2012, according to The Status of Wisconsin Agriculture, an annual report prepared by the Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“Wisconsin farmers as a whole earned a record high net farm income of $2.4 billion in 2011. This was up about $350 million from 2010 and three times the very depressed level of $800 million in 2009,” according to the report.
Agriculture pumped nearly $890 million into the Waukesha County economy last year, according to the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension.
Agricultural-related businesses employed more than 3,000 workers in the county who contributed about $207 million to the county’s total income, according to the extension service.

A history of farming

Waukesha County and the Lake Country region are rich in agricultural history. Between 1918 and 1959, the county assumed the titled “Cow County USA” because of its large number of dairy farms and cows.
The state’s first aboveground silo was built near Ashippun. Groundbreaking research was conducted on the Pabst Farms near Oconomowoc, according to Koepke, who also noted that the first farm implement with rubber tires was tested in the Town of Waukesha.

A look ahead

Farmers interviewed by Lake Country Publications were generally optimistic about the future, despite drastic declines in the industry during the past half-century.

Between 1969 and 2007, the number of dairy cows in Waukesha County dropped from 15,263 to 2,756, an 82-percent decline. There was a 92-percent reduction in dairy farms during the same period, according to Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC).

However, there are still more than 90,000 acres of land in the county devoted to agriculture. Waukesha County and some municipal governments have adopted land-use and tax policies that encourage the preservation of agricultural land, including agricultural enterprise zones in the towns of Oconomowoc, Ottawa and Eagle.

There are 86 Waukesha County farms, including nearly two dozen in Lake Country, that generate more than $800,000 annually in sales through farmers markets, roadside stands, pick-your-own operations and community supported agriculture (CSA) operations where consumers can purchase food directly from farms, according to the extension service.

Diversification is key

Professor Steven C. Deller of the UW-Madison Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics said this so-called “local foods movement” is significant because it provides new revenue streams for agriculture and offers farmers with new opportunities to diversify.
Diversification is important to survival, according to Lake Country farmers who think the housing market will eventually rebound, and real estate developers will again start paying higher prices to buy up farmland.
“There is going to be farming in the future; it is just going to be a different kind of farming,” Fryda said.
Fryda said selling manure is an example of diversification. He said consumers, particularly those involved in organic farming, will drive several hours to purchase his manure.
Wisconsin is second only to California in the number of certified organic farms in the United States.
Fryda admits he does not make large profits off the manure, but “it helps make ends meet,” and it is rela tively inexpensive to produce.
The Koepke farm is producing a new line of artisan cheeses. “La Belle” cheeses are sold at Piggly Wiggly grocery stores in Hartland and Oconomowoc and are available at farmers market.

John Koepke is optimistic the new cheese product will provide a revenue stream that is more stable than volatile commodity and dairy prices. According to the Farm Fresh Atlas, there are 65 farmers markets in Southeastern Wisconsin, nearly a dozen of them in Lake Country.

Morris said Lake Country farmers have a marketing advantage being located in the midst of so many farmers markets and between the Milwaukee and Chicago metropolitan areas. He said locally grown food production for sale to local consumers could be the future for some farmers.

“It is very viable if you are in a heavier metropolitan area. You don’t need a big tract of land, and people are willing to drive a few miles to get it,” he said.

“The significance of it is that it might make people think differently about agriculture. Instead of getting all of their food from a grocery store, they might want to visit a farm,” Morris concluded.
Schuett said he might increase his production of locally grown food to sell to the “agritourist,” many of them from Illinois, who flock to his farm.. The farm, with its corn mazes, happy faces painted on rolled hay bales and seasonal sales of pumpkins and Christmas trees, has become an iconic landmark along Highway 83.
“On the weekends, our phone rings constantly. They come from Illinois. They will pick their pumpkins. They will go to the corn maze, which might take two or three hours. Then they will go on a hay ride. That is what they want do. Spend the day on a Sunday afternoon,” he explained.

“If development comes back, and a lot of the land is gone, you have this stuff to fall back on. You have to diversify like in any other job,” Schuett added.
And he has learned agritourism tends to be recession proof.
“People who are hurting or out of job come back. They can’t make that big destination trip to Disneyworld. But they will come to visit the corn maze. They can afford that.”

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