The Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) has awarded the first $50 million round of its $150 million state budget initiative. The program—enacted in 2023 and championed by the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and a coalition of Wisconsin agricultural partner organizations—has issued a $33.6 million investment in rural road improvement projects set to benefit Wisconsin dairy businesses.
“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,” said WCMA Senior Director of Programs and Policy Rebekah Sweeney. “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.”
As a WCMA release stated, 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. In addition, 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.
As part of this impactful program, 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. The application period for the remaining $100 million in ARIP funding opens this month.
Stay tuned to DMN as we continue to cover the latest dairy industry news.
