BY REP. CALVIN CALLAHAN
June is Dairy Month and, in Wisconsin, we have a lot to celebrate! Our state is one of the top dairy producers in the nation. Here in America’s Dairyland, we account for over a quarter of the nation’s cheese production — equaling 3.5 billion pounds of cheese last year — and produce over 25 billion gallons of milk per year. While this industry already provides over $45 billion worth of economic output each year and sustains countless jobs, the Legislature has prioritized funding to support the growth of this critically important field.
Our most recent state budget funded several initiatives that will support our dairy industry. We doubled funding for the dairy processor grant program, which seeks to foster innovation, strengthen operations, and support the profitability of dairy processing facilities. We also provided $2 million in new money for the agricultural export program. With dairy being a top export from our state, this program will help boost the dairy industry by helping promote our state’s exports in foreign markets and increase export capacity.
We also created a new agricultural road improvement aid program, funded with $150 million. This local road aid program will fund construction on roads with heavy agricultural use, such as those used for hauling dairy products. This program is critically important for helping farmers and agricultural producers move their products and will help lower the cost of transporting goods.
As June Dairy Month continues, I encourage you to find time to celebrate our state’s strong dairy history. Whether it’s attending a local Dairy Breakfast, visiting a local dairy farm, or sampling some cheese from a local cheesemaker, there are endless ways to join in the celebration of dairy heritage in Wisconsin and show our gratitude for the dairy farmers and producers in our state.