Tuesday, August 25, 2015 --- 7:15 p.m.

Sun Prairie, Wis. --- Where's the beef? It's right here in Wisconsin. Typically when you think about Wisconsin agriculture, cheese and milk come to mind. The state's beef industry has "beefed" up considerably in the past 20 years.

Consumers may have noticed it's a bit pricey to put beef on the table.

"Nationally we've seen a decline in beef cow numbers. We're actually at the lowest beef cow inventory since the 1950s," said Dr. Amy Radunz, a professor of animal and food science at UW-River Falls.

She said Wisconsin is bucking that trend. Dr. Radunz has uncovered a secret that will shock many in the Dairy State. "There are more beef operations in Wisconsin than dairy operations." To be exact, there are 1,975 more beef producers than dairy with the average herd size about 18 head. While that may seem small, it's actually what makes this appealing to farmers.

Cody Quam, a 4th generation Wisconsin beef producer, said, "You can have a small beef farm of 30 to 50 cows and still have an off-the-farm job. You can be semiretired and still have a nice herd."

Dr. Radunz chimed in, "They usually have off-farm income. They have some land that's maybe not suitable for crop production, so beef cattle are a great way to utilize that land." She also said as many dairy producers sellout, it leaves behind a number of facilities and fencing that can be utilized as well.

These small, family owned farms have a far reaching impact. According to a report from the State of Wisconsin's Beef Industry, on-farm production and processing provides more than 35,000 jobs in the state. It also contributes to $2.1 billion in total income.

To learn more about Wisconsin's beef industry or the latest advancements in agriculture, visit Farm Tech Days. It's located at the Statz Bros. Farm near Sun Prairie. Click the embedded link to see a complete schedule of events.

Farm Tech Days runs through Thursday and is Wisconsin's largest farm show.