REMEMBERING ROD NILSESTUEN Members of the agriculture industry are remembering Rod Nilsestuen as friend of farmers and an effective advocate after the state Agriculture Secretary drowned in Lake Superior. The head of the Dairy Business Association said Nilsestuen would be remembered for the care he took in making sure all voices were heard on the issues important to rural Wisconsin. And the president of the state Farm Bureau says Nilsestuen showed a lifelong commitment to improving conditions for state farmers. ECONOMIC IMPACT Companies helped by a state manufacturing group reported an economic impact of more than $160 million dollars in the last year. Services from the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership generated an economic impact of $164 million dollars with 973 jobs created and retained during the past fiscal year. That includes more than $100 million dollars from Increased and retained sales. The group also projects a $10 million dollar tax revenue benefit to the state of Wisconsin as a result of sales and jobs impact. BROADBAND SERVICE A new FCC report says more than 130,000 people in WIsconsin live in counties that are underserved by broadband service. The FCC report shows that eight Wisconsin counties with largely rural populations are currently underserved. The advocacy group Wired Wisconsin says passing modernized telecom rules would help more state communities ger broadband access. For more business news go to www.wisbusiness.com