Wisconsin Ag Exports Hit Record $2 Billion Mark

Strong gains in Mexico and ethanol offset steep declines in China and Canada during the first half of 2026.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Agriculture

Wisconsin Ag Exports Hit Record $2 Billion Mark

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Wisconsin agricultural exports totaled more than $2 billion in the first half of 2026, a 5 percent increase over 2025 levels. Sales to China fell $41 million, or 45 percent, from a year earlier, while sales to Canada dropped nearly $16 million.

Why it matters

The gains show that new buyers in Mexico and expanded ethanol shipments can offset losses from tariff disputes. Continued trade tensions, however, leave the state's largest export markets exposed to further pressure later in the year.

The DATCP International Agribusiness Center report shows exports up 5 percent overall, with corn to Mexico rising 135 percent and soybeans to Mexico rising 125 percent. Dairy remains the top export product, making up more than 12 percent of all sales, though how far the China and Canada declines will carry into the second half of the year is not yet known.

The players

Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

The state agency that produced the export report through its International Agribusiness Center and oversees agricultural marketing and trade promotion in Wisconsin.

Donald Trump

The current President of the United States, whose administration imposed retaliatory tariffs on China and announced new tariffs on Canadian goods in September 2026.

The details

The state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection reported the figures, which were compiled by its International Agribusiness Center. Sales to China declined after the U.S. and China exchanged retaliatory tariffs, while China remained the top buyer of Wisconsin dairy cow genetics. Canada made up a third of Wisconsin's agricultural exports in 2025.

Canada accounted for a third of Wisconsin agricultural exports in 2025.
In September 2026, President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on Canadian goods.
The record export totals cover the first half of 2026, January through June.

Market Landscape

The China sales decline traces directly to the retaliatory tariff exchange between Washington and Beijing, which shifted purchases elsewhere. Gains in Mexico, where corn sales rose 135 percent, show Wisconsin producers redirecting volume toward buyers less affected by those disputes.

Farmers selling corn, soybeans, and ethanol into Mexico and Canada are seeing market access shift quickly with tariff changes. Producers who depend on China for dairy genetics or other sales should watch how the declines carry into the second half of the year.

The takeaway

Export diversification is cushioning Wisconsin's farm sector against tariff losses, but the balance depends on how the Canadian and Chinese markets recover. Producers should track tariff announcements closely, since timing shifts can change which buyers are available.