– June is a special month in Wisconsin for many reasons, including the
beautiful weather, the end of the school year, and on top of it all, it’s June Dairy Month!
Wisconsin’s economy, history, and culture are steeped in an appreciation for all things dairy,
and it’s during the month of June that we can be especially thankful for dairy farmers, haulers,
processers, distributors, consumers, and everyone who keeps the industry strong in America’s
Dairyland.
There are many links in the dairy chain, and during June Dairy Month we take the time to
appreciate every link, including processors. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade
and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Dairy Processor Grant program continues to foster
innovation, improve profitability, and sustain the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s dairy
processing facilities. In 2024, thanks to investments from Gov. Evers and the legislature,
DATCP funded additional Dairy Processor Grants, with the total of awarded proposals in the
millions over the history of the program. Grant dollars support Wisconsin’s dairy processing
plants with development in food safety, staff training, plant expansion or modernization, and
professional consulting services.
While the budget process in ongoing, Gov. Evers has continued to prioritize Wisconsin
agriculture, and he included investing in Wisconsin farmers and farm families, producers, and
processors in his 2025-27 Executive Budget. If the legislature agrees with these investments
for agriculture, it will benefit dairy across the board, including funding for the Dairy
Innovation Hub to boost dairy research and innovation. The 2025-27 Executive Budget also
would provide $1.5 million to create a new pilot Dairy Agriculture Resilience Investment Now
Grant (DARING) program aimed at supporting on-farm projects that improve resilience and
efficiency of farm operations, as well as continued funding of DATCP’s Dairy Processor Grant
program. I am hopeful that the budget will continue to support agriculture and benefit
Wisconsin dairy’s future.
June Dairy Month is about more than just being grateful. It’s also a time to reflect on the
Wisconsin dairy industry as a whole. DATCP has partnered with Wisconsin’s dairy industry to
strengthen surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI/H5N1) and, since March
2024, has tested more than 7,000 samples of milk for H5N1. DATCP is also holding meetings
with stakeholders, publishing biosecurity resources, and working with state and federal
partners, as Wisconsin implements the mandatory U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
National Milk Testing Strategy. We are fortunate that pasteurization keeps our dairy products
safe and nutritious in stores across the state so citizens can support the dairy farms that house
Wisconsin’s 1.28 million cows.
There is much more to be said about the continued progress the dairy industry has made in the
past year. After reaching the halfway point in a decade full of change and challenges,
Wisconsin’s dairy industry has continued to showcase its strength and flexibility. DATCP will
continue to serve as a resource for Wisconsin’s dairy industry now and into the future. This
June Dairy Month, I encourage you to enjoy Wisconsin’s rich heritage and celebrate the dairy
industry by enjoying a cold glass of Wisconsin milk, a generous scoop of Wisconsin ice cream,
or any of our state’s many delicious dairy products.
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