WCMA Applauds USDA Award of Over $11 Million for Dairy Business Innovation

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) award of over $11 million in new federal funding for the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives.  Awards will go to four centers offering technical assistance and direct-to-business grants for dairy farmers and processors, including the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) led by WCMA and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR).

“This funding recognizes the success of our work to help processors and farmers adapt, innovate, and grow in challenging times,” said WCMA Executive Director John Umhoefer. “Through DBIA, we’ve delivered more than $24 million in grants to dairy businesses across the Midwest, and this new award allows us to continue supporting small and mid-sized processors as they strengthen markets for milk and build long-term resilience.”

Under this new award, DBIA is eligible to receive $3.45 million to support product research and development, technical assistance, education, and direct grants to dairy businesses across Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.  It has directed nearly 300 grants, and supported hundreds of businesses with education and consultative services since 2018.

“The CDR is delighted to continue this partnership with the WCMA on the DBIA program, which has a proven track record of supporting innovation and growth for farmsteads and smaller dairy businesses throughout our region,” said CDR Director John Lucey.

The DBI program was first established in the 2018 Farm Bill under the leadership of Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and has since been championed not only by Sen. Baldwin, but also by a bipartisan group of lawmakers including Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin 03) and Representative Salud Carbajal (D-California 24).

As Congress considers funding levels for DBII in the next Farm Bill and future appropriations bills, WCMA underscores the importance of continued advocacy from dairy processors. The Association encourages dairy businesses to visit WisCheeseMakers.org/news/advocacy to quickly contact their lawmakers and urge sustained investment in this essential program.