
Wisconsin is known as 'America's Dairyland' and for good reason. The state is home to more than 1,000,000 cows and 11,400 dairy farms. It's also the only state that requires a license to make cheese. Wisconsin produces one-quarter of all cheese in the US, with 90% of its milk supply being made into cheese. That's more than 2.8 billion pounds of cheese per year, or 11 pounds for each person in the country. Wisconsin also produces 600 varieties of cheese, including Brick and Colby, which were first created in the state.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Wisconsin milk made into cheese | 90% |
| Amount of cheese made from Wisconsin milk per year | 2.8 billion pounds |
| Amount of cheese made from Wisconsin milk per person in the US | 11 pounds |
| Number of cheese varieties produced in Wisconsin | 600 |
| Number of cheese festivals in Wisconsin | 13 |
| Percentage of specialty cheese made in the US that comes from Wisconsin | 47% |
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What You'll Learn

90% of Wisconsin milk is made into cheese
Ninety percent of Wisconsin milk is made into cheese. That’s more than 2.8 billion pounds of cheese per year, or 11 pounds for each person in the United States. Wisconsin produces 600 varieties of cheese, including Brick and Colby cheese, which were first created in the state. Limburger, the world’s foulest-smelling cheese, is made only in Monroe. Wisconsin is home to more than 13 festivals dedicated specifically to cheese. It is the only state that requires a license to make cheese and is home to the only Master Cheesemaker program outside of Europe. Wisconsin produces one of every four pounds of cheese in the U.S. (3.17 billion lbs). Wisconsin is the first in the production of many popular cheese varieties, including Cold Pack & Cheese Food, Muenster, Brick, Cheddar and Mozzarella. Wisconsin dairy farms produce more than 23 billion pounds of milk every year. That’s about 14% of the country’s total milk supply. Wisconsin is the #1 cheese-producing state, making 26% of the country’s cheese. Wisconsin cheesemakers use about 90% of Wisconsin’s milk supply to make more than 2 billion pounds of cheese every year. According to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, 47% of all specialty cheese made in the U.S. comes from Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin produces 600 varieties of cheese
Ninety per cent of Wisconsin milk is made into cheese, which equates to more than 2.8 billion pounds of cheese per year, or 11 pounds for each person in the United States. Wisconsin produces 600 varieties of cheese, including Brick and Colby, which were first created in the state. Limburger, the world's foulest-smelling cheese, is made only in Monroe. Wisconsin is home to more than 13 festivals dedicated specifically to cheese. It is the only state that requires a licence to make cheese and is home to the only Master Cheesemaker programme outside of Europe. Wisconsin produces one of every four pounds of cheese in the US (3.17 billion lbs). It is the first in the production of many popular cheese varieties, including Cold Pack and Cheese Food (67%), Mueller (43%), Brick (26%), Cheddar (25%) and Mozzarella (23%). Wisconsin dairy farms produce more than 23 billion pounds of milk every year, which is about 14% of the country's total milk supply. Wisconsin is the number one cheese-producing state, making 26% of the country's cheese. Wisconsin cheesemakers use about 90% of Wisconsin's milk supply to make more than 2 billion pounds of cheese every year. According to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, 47% of all specialty cheese made in the US comes from Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin is the only state that requires a license to make cheese
Ninety percent of Wisconsin milk is made into cheese, which is more than 2.8 billion pounds of cheese per year. Wisconsin is the only state in the US that requires a license to make cheese. The process, which can take up to two years, is overseen by Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. It includes, depending on the applicant's experience and chosen path, some variation of hands-on experience and classes that cover topics like food safety and pasteurisation.
Wisconsin is also the only place outside of Europe that requires a license to make cheese. It is the only state in the country, and the only place outside of Switzerland, where you can become a Master Cheesemaker. Wisconsin is home to more than 1,200 licensed cheesemakers, but there are only about 100 Master Cheesemakers. Only two of these have been women, and the third, Sara Griesbach, was announced in May.
Wisconsin produces one-quarter of all cheese in America (3.2 billion lbs/year) and half of all specialty cheese. It is the #1 cheese-producing state, making 26% of the country's cheese. Wisconsin cheesemakers use about 90% of Wisconsin's milk supply to make more than 2 billion pounds of cheese every year.
Wisconsin is home to more than 13 festivals dedicated specifically to cheese. It is also the only state with the Master Cheesemaker program outside of Europe.
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Wisconsin produces one of every four pounds of cheese in the US
Ninety per cent of Wisconsin milk is made into cheese. That's more than 2.8 billion pounds of cheese per year, or 11 pounds for each person in the United States. Wisconsin is the only state that requires a license to make cheese and is home to the only Master Cheesemaker programme outside of Europe. Wisconsin is also the only place outside of Europe that requires a license to make cheese.
Wisconsin is the #1 cheese-producing state, making 26% of the country's cheese. Wisconsin cheesemakers use about 90% of Wisconsin's milk supply to make more than 2 billion pounds of cheese every year. Wisconsin is also home to more than 13 festivals dedicated specifically to cheese.
Forty-seven per cent of all specialty cheese made in the US comes from Wisconsin.
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Wisconsin is home to more than 13 festivals dedicated to cheese
Ninety per cent of Wisconsin milk is made into cheese. That's more than 2.8 billion pounds of cheese per year, or 11 pounds for each person in the United States. Wisconsin is home to more than 13 festivals dedicated specifically to cheese.
Wisconsin is the only state that requires a license to make cheese and is home to the only Master Cheesemaker programme outside of Europe. Wisconsin produces one of every four pounds of cheese in the US (3.17 billion lbs). Wisconsin produces 600 varieties of cheese. Brick and Colby cheese were first created in Wisconsin and Limburger, the world's foulest-smelling cheese, is made only in Monroe.
Wisconsin is the first in the production of many popular cheese varieties. It produces 80% of the country's cold pack and cheese food, 67% of Muenster, 43% of Brick, 26% of Cheddar and 25% of Mozzarella. Wisconsin dairy farms produce more than 23 billion pounds of milk every year. That's about 14% of the country's total milk supply. Wisconsin is the number one cheese-producing state, making 26% of the country's cheese. Wisconsin cheesemakers use about 90% of Wisconsin's milk supply to make more than 2 billion pounds of cheese every year.
According to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, 47% of all specialty cheese made in the US comes from Wisconsin.
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Frequently asked questions
90%.
2.8 billion pounds of cheese per year, or 11 pounds for each person in the United States.
Wisconsin dairy farms produce more than 23 billion pounds of milk every year.
47%.

























