Farmers in the state continue to grapple with persistent dry conditions as portions of Wisconsin are now experiencing extreme drought.  While the USDA’s latest crop progress report notes sporadic rain in western Wisconsin and elsewhere have helped some, much of the state continues to see “poor crop and pasture conditions”

Hiring expectations among Wisconsin employers have fallen dramatically in the latest Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce survey.  WMC yesterday announced results from the organization’s latest Wisconsin Employer Survey, conducted online and through the mail in late June. Forty-nine percent of respondents expect to add employees over the next six months, compared

Federal lawmakers from Wisconsin are raising concerns about a potential regulatory change with implications for engine-driven portable welders.  In a recent letter to the head of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, GOP U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, Dem U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and GOP U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio

A top presidential economic advisor is touting the impact of “Bidenomics” on Wisconsin’s small business community.  Jared Bernstein, chair of President Biden’s Council of Economic Advisers, yesterday told WisBusiness.com the president’s plan for continued economic growth involves “growing the economy from the bottom up and the middle out.”  His remarks

Farm groups led by Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative are getting a $50 million USDA grant for more sustainable, climate-friendly dairy and beet sugar production.  The Green Bay-based co-op and nonprofit Farmers for Sustainable Food yesterday announced Edge has finalized an agreement with the federal agency for the new grant. It

Public Service Commission Chairperson Rebecca Valcq is praising a $1.05 billion investment in broadband for the state, saying along with public and private dollars, the funding “will make it possible to achieve our goal of internet for all.” U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of

Business advocates in the state are applauding the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee for advancing a plan to cut income taxes by $3.5 billion, as well as the recent repeal of the personal property tax.  Bill Smith, state director in Wisconsin for the National Federation of Independent Business, noted the majority

The median sale price for homes in Wisconsin has more than doubled over the past decade, according to a new report from UW-Madison’s Division of Extension.  The report was authored by Prof. Steven Deller, an economist in the university’s Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.  Between April 2012 and April

The Versiti Blood Research Institute’s planned expansion in Wauwatosa could bring more than 100 new jobs to the area.  That’s according to Chris Miskel, president and CEO of Versiti. In a recent interview, he discussed the research institute’s plans for adding 65,000 square feet of new space to its Wisconsin

Widespread drought conditions are hurting some crops in the state, according to the latest report from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.  The federal agency’s latest crop progress report, produced in cooperation with DATCP, covers the week ending June 18. It shows moisture levels in both topsoil and subsoil have

Shipping volumes through the Port of Green Bay so far this year are 54 percent higher than in the same period of 2022, according to the latest cargo figures.  Year-to-date, a total of 429,992 tons of cargo has moved through the port, a release shows. By comparison, that figure was

The deputy director of the National Economic Council is pushing back on the idea of a labor shortage amid record-low unemployment in Wisconsin.  In a recent interview, Bharat Ramamurti said the state maintaining unemployment at 2.4 percent through April and May of this year is “obviously good news for folks

After winning this year’s Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest, SixLine Semiconductor CEO Katy Jinkins is focused on proving the company’s technology and building industry relationships.  This Middleton-based company is developing advanced electronics components using carbon nanotubes — very small materials that can be incorporated into wireless devices and used for

Home sales in the greater Milwaukee area were down 21.1 percent over the year in May, continuing a trend seen throughout the first part of this year.  According to the latest Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors report, 1,574 homes were sold last month in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington counties.

Local leaders are pushing for a collaborative regional approach to economic development that supports rural communities across central Wisconsin.  “The more that we can be informed of what other communities are doing, what other counties are doing, the more we can regionally benefit from those efforts and aligning those returns

Wage and salary growth in Wisconsin is expected to slow this year and the next, according to the latest Department of Revenue economic forecast.  After wages and salaries in the state grew 8.2 percent last year, they’re expected to rise 6.6 percent this year and 3.6 percent in 2024. At

Gov. Tony Evers is hailing the news that Wisconsin’s tourism industry generated a record $23.7 billion in total economic impact in 2022. That exceeds the previous record of $22.2 billion in total economic impact in 2019, according to the guv’s release. All 72 counties saw a boost in total tourism

Bankers in Wisconsin are less pessimistic about the economy’s trajectory, according to the latest Wisconsin Bankers Association survey.  The group found 86 percent of the bank CEOs tapped in its most recent survey expect inflation to fall or stay flat over the next six months, which is up from 76

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin says new federal legislation would make electric motorcycles more affordable while supporting manufacturers including Harley-Davidson.  The Madison Dem last week introduced the Electric Motorcycle Parity Act alongside U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat from Pennsylvania. The bill would add certain qualifying motorcycles to the list of

The winner of this year’s Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest is SixLine Semiconductor, a Middleton-based startup developing components for advanced electronics. The company’s technology hinges on the use of carbon nanotubes, which are microscopic materials with applications for wireless devices as well as computing. CEO, co-founder and co-inventor Katy Jinkins