Senators Tammy Baldwin, D- Wisc., and Marsha Blackburn, R- Tenn., introduced legislation today that they say will help dairy producers innovate and add value to their businesses. The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2023 would increase grant and technical assistance annual funding from $20 million to $36 million.

The bill was also co-sponsored by Sen. Peter Welch, D- Vt. Organizations endorsing the legislation include the National Milk Producers Federation, Organic Valley, the International Dairy Foods Association, the Midwest Dairy Coalition, and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association.

“We thank Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their leadership to ensure the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program can continue to grow and thrive,” National Milk Producers Federation president and CEO Jim Mulhern says. “Dairy has a long history of ingenuity and pioneering cutting-edge advancement, and this program helps support researchers and industry leaders as they work to continue to drive innovation.”

Baldwin led efforts to establish the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives through a similar bill included in the 2018 Farm Bill. Since 2019, it has allocated more than $150 million through regional centers to dairy producers. The funds support new and expanding dairy businesses and assist with dairy plant modernization and process improvements. They also help dairy producers with product marketing, distribution, safety training and other efforts.

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According to Baldwin, this new bill will help ensure the DBI program has the resources it needs to help more businesses innovate and grow for the future.

“Our dairy farmers and producers face unique challenges and expanding this program will give more small- and medium-sized dairy businesses the tools and opportunity to reach new markets, implement efficiencies, and create world-class products,” she says.