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pull back on spending because of decreased cash flow. "There are so many businesses that says Kasten. "It's going to unfold very slowly." A 2011 University of Wisconsin- " do business with a dairy farm," says Schneider. "There will be a wave effect through their supplier chain." "This is a slow-motion disaster, Madison and University of Wisconsin- Extension study showed statewide agriculture is a $59.16 billion industry providing 353,991 jobs. Outagamie County is a top 10 dairy-producing county, and agriculture provides 11,593 jobs and $2.8 billion in business sales. In Brown County, agriculture provides 21,038 jobs and $6 billion in business sales. In Marquette, Waushara, Oconto and Green Lake, agriculture may not employ large numbers, but it does account for a significant share of the economy. "If I'm going to reduce the number of animals on my farm, and I have three employees, I may have to let one go, that displaced farm workers will leave the area and not return. "Already in this industry, we are short of the truly skilled farm workers." He'll know more in the coming " says Kasten, who is concerned weeks, but the fate of the corn crop is already determined. "The miracle already needed to have happened," he says. He may REGIONAL ROUNDUP » HIGHWAY 41 CORRIDOR Brown, Calumet, Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac Counties Plexus Corp. lays off 116 employees The Plexus Corp. of Appleton, a contract electronics manufacturer, laid off 116 employees in early August. Employees let go from the company have already begun concluding their work at Plexus. The cut in workforce numbers was attributed to a decrease in customer orders. The layoffs were split evenly between full-time and temporary workers, with half of the overall layoffs coming from each group. Plexus currently employs Development in the New North By Rashmika Nedungadi For links to economic development groups in the New North, visit www.thenewnorth.com/communitiesmap. the Midwest, and 85th out of 650 colleges and universities nationwide. St. Norbert College, De Pere, ranked No. 113 nationwide. Brown, Winnebago receive state 'Transform' awards A grant for $320,000 was awarded to the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce's Live54218 campaign from the "Transform Wisconsin" initiative. The Live54218 program promotes healthy eating and physical activity among K-12 students. The "Transform Wisconsin" approximately 2,000 workers in two of its Appleton sites. Ginger Jones, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Plexus, says that the layoffs were "a small percentage" of the company's workforce. decide to plant peas and oats and harvest later into the season, or alfalfa might still do fine, with a little rain, he says. He's already sold some of the dairy cows sooner than he would have, and he may still cull the herd size down by 10 percent. "We'll find a way to get enough feed to get us through and maybe next year we have a good year. may be what sees the industry through what appears to be a catastrophic year. "It' The resiliency of Wisconsin's farmers " s a difficult way to make a living, but don't be fooled," says Kasten. "There are rewards. That's why there are still farmers. Farmers will find a way." 14 | INSIGHT • September 2012 Lawrence recognized as Forbes top college Lawrence University of Appleton topped the Wisconsin portion of Forbes' "America's Top Colleges" ranking, a position it has held in Wisconsin for the past five years. Forbes uses five criteria of initiative, created by the Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention resources, provides grants to local wellness programs that deliver healthy options to its local community, such as more fresh fruits and vegetables in school cafeterias, affordable physical activity and smoke-free buildings. Transform Wisconsin also awarded the Winnebago County Health Department $460,000 for its "re:TH!NK" program, which promotes healthy lifestyles through increased physical activity, healthy diets and smoke-free environments. The grants, totaling $6.6 million comparison when determining ranking decisions: post-graduate career success, student satisfaction and retention rate, student debt, four-year graduation rates and acquisition of competitive national awards, such as Fulbright and Rhodes scholarships. In addition to Wisconsin rankings, Lawrence ranked 16th in among 30 communities, aim to reverse unhealthy habits, such as increased obesity and chronic illness brought on by insufficient health measures. According to Vicki Schorse, executive director of Mercy Health Foundation, "Prevention efforts are the key to accomplishing systemic changes that will encourage healthier lifestyles and improve the overall health of our community members." www. insightonbusiness.com U PF R O N T