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More funding proposed for Dairy Innovation Grants

New legislation in the U.S. Senate would reauthorize and strengthen the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives. 

Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin tells Brownfield the bill just introduced would increase DBI funding from 20 million dollars a year to 36 million dollars per year. “As Congress works to pass a 2023 farm bill, I am working on a bipartisan basis to get new and expanded Dairy Business Innovation initiatives included.”

Baldwin tells Brownfield the successful program has invested about 120 million dollars so far, with about 40 million of that in Wisconsin. “I think it’s a reflection of both the challenges that the dairy industry has faced in recent years with price volatility, both for what farmers can expect to receive for their milk but also volatility with respect to their input costs.”

Baldwin says the program has helped dairy businesses with marketing, product development, and facility improvements since its launch in 2018. “I’ve been able to directly talk with dairy businesses across the state who have taken advantage of the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, and hear how it has helped them improve their operations or reach new markets, innovate with new products.”

Baldwin and Republican Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee introduced the bill this week.

Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin discusses the proposed funding for the Dairy Innovation Initiative program with Brownfield’s Larry Lee