WCMA Applauds Senate Action to Fund Dairy Innovation, H5N1 Response
Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today applauded the United States Senate Appropriations Committee to boost funding for key dairy priorities, including nutrition programs, agricultural research, and the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (DBII). The Senate proposal for Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations advanced today with bipartisan support, providing more than $27 billion in total funding, a $821 million increase over 2024.
“Dairy processors appreciate Congressional investments that provide hunger relief, ensuring American families have access to highly nutritious dairy foods, as well as funds that support the development of new value-added products and advance industry modernization,” said Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA Senior Director of Programs and Policy. “This package offers direct benefit to dairy businesses, strengthening rural communities, the nation’s food supply chain, and our economy,” Sweeney added.
WCMA cheered, in particular, an effort led by U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) to increase federal support for the DBII by $5 million, bringing total proposed funding for the program in 2025 to $17 million. Baldwin also added a provision directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to further support the work of the DBII with Commodity Credit Corporation dollars for H5N1 outbreak response through the Initiative’s four regional centers.
“Our dairy farmers and processors work hard every day to carry on our state’s legacy of producing world-class products that power our Made in Wisconsin economy,” said Senator Baldwin. “I was proud to establish the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative to help our dairy businesses innovate, improve efficiencies, and expand their markets, and am proud to continue championing annual investments in the Initiative so Wisconsin businesses have what they need to confront the headwinds they face and grow for the future.”
“Senator Baldwin again today demonstrated her steadfast commitment to dairy farmers and processors and her effectiveness as a lawmaker, securing support for education, research, and direct-to-business grants via the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative,” said Sweeney. “We thank Senator Baldwin for her hard work and partnership, both of which are essential as our industry addresses the continued challenges of a labor shortage and volatile marketplace, and emerging issues like the outbreak of H5N1 in dairy herds.”
WCMA, in partnership with the Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, runs one of the four DBII centers, called the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA). The DBIA has awarded 213 grants totaling more than $16.5 million to businesses in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, in addition to technical assistance, market analysis, product research, business consulting services, and education for dairy farmers and processors. WCMA has also announced H5N1 educational offerings, supported in part by DBIA, including online tools, employee and food safety webinars, and a farm biosecurity workshop. Additional resources will be announced soon with complete details at WisCheeseMakers.org.
Today’s unanimous, bipartisan Senate committee vote advances the FY25 appropriations process, but differences between the House and Senate packages must be reconciled before final votes can be taken.