A unanimous, bipartisan Senate committee voted to advance the 2025 Fiscal Year proposal to provide more than $27 billion in total funding to the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA). The boost would fund key dairy priorities, including nutrition programs, agricultural research, and the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (DBII). WCMA applauded the United States Senate Appropriations Committee for the $821 million increase from 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.”
House and Senate packages must be reconciled before final votes can be taken, but U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) also commented on the move.
“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.”
The WCMA cheered in particular for Senator Baldwin, who led an effort to increase federal support for the DBII by $5 million, according to a release. This brings the proposed total funding for the program $17 million in 2025. Senator Baldwin also added a provision for H5N1 outbreak response through the work of the DBII.
“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,” added Sweeney at the time of release. “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 has announced H5N1 educational offerings, including online tools, employee and food safety webinars, and a farm biosecurity workshop, all supported by the DBIA.
Check back with Deli Market News as we keep rolling out all the latest headlines.
