THU AM News: State ag exports hit record $2.13B in first half of 2026; OCI says it was notified of 794 ‘suspicious’ ACA plan policyholders in WI

September 24, 2026

— Wisconsin had a record-setting $2.13 billion in food, forestry and agriculture exports in the first half of this year, buoyed by rising exports to key markets in Canada and Mexico.

That’s according to the latest quarterly report from the International Agribusiness Center, which shows Wisconsin has climbed to No. 10 in the country for ag exports after seeing growth of 5.42% compared to the first half of 2025.

Gov. Tony Evers is touting the report’s findings, pointing to his administration’s efforts over nearly eight years to boost the state’s ag sectors and struggling family farms.

His office yesterday slammed the Trump administration’s “reckless tariff taxes” that came after the period covered in the report, leading to the latest trade conflict with Canada, the state’s single largest export destination by far. Retaliatory Canadian tariffs on a variety of U.S. goods took effect Sept. 8, impacting $27.6 billion in exports.

Evers warns the trade wars “could jeopardize all of the important progress we’ve made” under his administration.

“Republicans have enabled President Trump to target Wisconsin’s largest export partner, raise prices on working families, and cause the cost of fuel to skyrocket, making the cost of doing business and getting products to market even more expensive,” Evers said.

Led by Canada and Mexico, the state’s top five export markets also include South Korea, China and Japan, collectively making up 65% of Wisconsin’s total ag exports, according to the report. In all, the state exported to 134 countries in the first half of the year.

Ethanol exports to Canada rose by 71% while cranberries rose by 66%, sauces by 53% and pickles by 7%. At the same time, corn exports to Mexico increased by 135% while soybeans grew by 125%.

Meanwhile, report authors note East Asian countries “remained a strong area of growth” for the state, as meat cuts going to Taiwan grew by 69% while those going to South Korea rose by 107%. But exports to China continue to fall as exporters in Wisconsin explore new markets, dropping to $93 million in the second quarter from $131 million at the same point last year.

Broken down by broad category, crops made up 63% of the state’s ag exports for the second quarter, including grains, forestry, processed foods and beverages, the report shows. Dairy made up 18%, covering cheese, whey, lactose and milk proteins, while meat made up the other 18%, including livestock, bovine genetics, hides and furs.

Based on the latest export data, Wisconsin is the No. 1 state in the country for exports of cranberries, ginseng, specialty cheese, prepared meat, bovine genetics and mink pelts.

See the full report.

See the release.

— The Trump administration notified Wisconsin in July that it had identified 794 policyholders on the Obamacare exchanges that it believed were suspicious.

A spokesperson for the Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner said the agency hasn’t received word since on how many of those had their coverage terminated.

Vice President JD Vance this week announced plans to remove approximately 315,000 enrollments from the Affordable Care Act’s public healthcare exchanges, covering 760,000 people that the Trump administration believes were fraudulently enrolled or don’t exist.

In the announcement, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services didn’t provide a state-by-state breakdown, and the agency didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking details on Wisconsin enrollees.

— SSM Health has opened a new care location in Verona it says will expand access to various services for locals, ranging from primary care and orthopedics to imaging and more.

The new 40,000-square-foot Verona Outpatient Center is located on a 100-acre site in the city, and was designed by architecture firm Kahler Slater. Other partners in the project include JP Cullen, IMEG and GRAEF.

It will offer eye care, women’s health services, dermatology, nutrition counseling, diabetes education, lab services and a retail space for optical care. The clinic has an integrated care team model, an approach that combines diagnosis, treatment and disease management, along with other supportive services.

— Sun Prairie’s Independent Pharmacy Cooperative announced it’s acquiring IntegralRx, a South Carolina pharmacy products supplier.

In a statement on the move, IPC President and CEO Marc Essensa said it’s about “preserving and strengthening the relationships” that IntegralRx built with independent pharmacies. Yesterday’s announcement notes IPC will look to expand access to more products, services and resources through the acquisition.

“We believe this combination creates the best possible outcome for pharmacies by preserving what made IntegralRx successful while expanding the opportunities available to its customers,” Essensa said.

IPC says it will retain “key” personnel from IntegralRx and work with customers to make sure the transition process is “seamless.” The company says pharmacy customers will keep receiving dedicated support while getting access to more purchasing opportunities through its broader network.

See the release.

Top headlines from the Healthcare Report…

— Wisconsin has now had 171 cases of measles so far this year, after state health officials recently announced a new confirmed case in Chippewa County.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

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— Results from the next Marquette University Law School Poll will be released Wednesday, offering the latest snapshot on data center views.

Along with asking voters about the governor’s race and their perceptions of candidates, the upcoming poll will include an expanded look at data centers and the state’s economy.

That includes views on AI and tariffs, among other things.

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