WCMA Cheers $33 Million Dairy Industry Impact of New Wisconsin Agricultural Road Improvement Program

Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today applauded investments of $33.6 million in rural road improvement projects benefiting Wisconsin dairy businesses. The funding is part of the first $50 million round awarded through the new Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP), a $150 million state budget initiative championed by WCMA and a coalition of Wisconsin agricultural partner organizations and enacted in 2023. 

“Investing in Wisconsin’s rural roads is critical for the long-term strength, stability, and success of our dairy processing industry – and our entire food supply chain. We’re sincerely grateful to Governor Tony Evers, Wisconsin Department of Transportation leaders, and legislators on both sides of the aisle, particularly State Representative Travis Tranel and State Senator Howard Marklein, who worked together to make this funding a reality,” said WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy Rebekah Sweeney. 

Processors directly benefiting from ARIP awards include Cedar Valley Cheese of Belgium; Heartisan Foods-North Country Packaging of Almena; Mullins Cheese of Knowlton; Nasonville Dairy of Marshfield; Pagel’s Ponderosa of Kewaunee; and Pine River Pre-Pack of Newton.  Dairy farmers shipping milk to Eau Galle Cheese of Durand; Foremost Farms USA of Middleton; Grande Cheese Company of Fond du Lac; and Prairie Farms Dairy of West Allis, among others, also secured road aid through the program. 

The application period for the remaining $100 million in ARIP funding will open in August. Dairy manufacturers and processors are encouraged to support their local governments’ applications by providing essential information about their use of local agricultural roads and the potential business impacts of road improvements. Information on eligibility and simple instructions will be available at WisCheeseMakers.org/Grants when the application period opens.