Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) introduced the Dairy Business Innovation Act in the House, a companion bill to legislation in the Senate.

Van Orden says the bill will allocate an additional $16 million per year to USDA’s Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives.

“Yes, that’s correct. So, the current funding levels is at $20 million, we are increasing it $16 million, so it will be a total of $36 million. It goes to four different centers, one in Tennessee, one in Vermont, one at the University of Wisconsin and another one out in Fresno, California. This does a really good job of making sure that we got the four corners covered, essentially, to get everybody the help that they need in the dairy industry.” 

USDA’s Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives support dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products.

“I’m not a big fan of big government honestly, but we have to understand the dairy industry is vital not just to our economy, but to our culture in the state of Wisconsin. And I’m completely happy making sure that when we can help our dairy industry out that we do so. If we want to have smaller and medium farms going, they’re going to need some more assistance because they simply don’t have the capital available that larger operation. So, this is good governance in play, and it’s going to be a bipartisan, bicameral bill, and hopefully the president will sign it.” 

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced the legislation in the Senate a few weeks ago. Baldwin started the effort through the Dairy Business Innovation Act in 2018, which passed as part of the 2018 Farm Bill.