AGRICULTURE

Agriculture in the Great Lakes Region is diverse and productive, with dairy,
cash grain and livestock as the region's mainstays in terms of value and
volume. Unique climate-production niches have created a wealth of specialty
crops.

* Farms in the Region number 563,000 and include 136 million acres.

* Cash receipts from crops and livestock sales totaled nearly $34 billion in
1988.

* Great Lakes states are at or near the top in a number of agricultural
products including: corn, soybeans, pork, milk/butter/cheese, apples, grapes,
turkeys, spring wheat, sugar beets, tart cherries, and blueberries.

* More than 22% of the value of U.S. agricultural exports in 1989 was
attributed to the Region.

* Great Lakes states are among the national leaders in direct farm marketing
through farmers' markets, roadside stands and "pick-your-own" operations.


WISCONSIN IS AMERICA'S LEADING DAIRY PRODUCTS STATE WITH NEARLY 20% AND 35% OF
TOTAL U.S. MILK AND CHEESE PRODUCTION, RESPECTIVELY.