Senator Baldwin Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support More Wisconsin Dairy Businesses

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that will strengthen the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII) to help more American dairy farmers and processors add value to their businesses, including creating new products, expanding their markets, and modernizing their production facilities. To date, the Baldwin-backed program has supported over 250 dairy farmers and processors in the Midwest, including 109 in Wisconsin.

“My Dairy Business Innovation Initiative has helped Wisconsin dairy farmers, producers, and cheesemakers grow their operations, tap into new markets, and innovate new products,” said Senator Baldwin. “From expanding facilities and growing their operations to improving packaging and lowering their shipping costs, this program has helped Wisconsin businesses grow their bottom lines and create jobs in our rural communities. I’m fighting to expand this vital program so more farmers, cheesemakers, and dairy processors have the tools to innovate and drive our rural economy forward.”

“The dairy industry is an essential part of the American economy. It is crucial that we provide the resources that dairies in Tennessee need to expand and create new products,” said Senator Blackburn. “With many small Tennessee dairies struggling to remain open, this bill will allow these businesses to diversify and expand their market competitiveness.”

After Senator Baldwin successfully created the DBII program in the 2018 Farm Bill, multiple dairy business and innovation centers were established to serve producers across the country. These centers, in partnership with dairy farmers and processors, are spurring innovation in dairy businesses, fostering the development of new dairy products and modernizing existing dairy plants. As a result, the program has gone on to add value to the milk produced by American farmers and expand their market access.

Each regional initiative is tasked with providing technical assistance and grants to farmers and processors, including:

• Supporting new and expanding dairy businesses— Centers provide assistance with business plan development, accounting, market evaluation, and strategic planning.
• Promoting innovation in dairy products— Dairy businesses receive assistance with product innovation, marketing and branding, packaging, distribution, supply chain innovation, food safety training and consultation, and dairy product production training.
• Assisting with dairy plant modernization and process improvement— Dairy businesses receive assistance with processing facility improvement, including assistance with plant upgrades, food safety modernization, energy and water efficiency, byproduct reprocessing and use maximization, and waste treatment.

The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 builds on the support for regional dairy research and innovation centers across the country by raising the program’s annual authorization from $20 million to $36 million.

The legislation is endorsed by the International Dairy Foods Association, Midwest Dairy Coalition, National Milk Producers Federation, Organic Valley, Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation.

“Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives have spurred both farm and processor business growth over the past five years, strengthening rural economies and creating career opportunities, but our work is far from done. Increased program funding is critical now as the dairy industry faces new market volatility, labor challenges, and inflation,” said Rebekah Sweeney, senior director of programs and policy for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, serving nearly 900 dairy industry companies and cooperatives nationwide.  “We’re deeply grateful for Sen. Baldwin’s championship of Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives and for the bipartisan coalition of lawmakers working hard to see this program continue.”

“We thank Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their continued bipartisan leadership in strengthening the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program. Dairy has a storied history of pioneering effective new products and practices as dairy farmers and their cooperatives work to supply the U.S. and the world with nutritious, sustainably produced food. This program helps support researchers and their industry partners working to drive this innovation forward,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of National Milk Producers Federation. 

“Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator Marsha Blackburn should be commended for a bill that enhances the assets and investments in the U.S. the dairy industry,” said Adam Warthesen, Vice President of Government and Industry Affairs at Organic Valley. “Dairy is an economic engine in rural communities – we at Organic Valley know dairy processors who are doing more with support from this initiative and American farmers who are better positioned to bring milk to market because of it.”

“Wisconsin dairy farmers are a mainstay of our state’s rural economy and its essential we continue to support innovation in an effort to keep it relevant,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Brad Olson. “The Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025 will increase the funding available to dairy farmers and processors to maintain Wisconsin’s place as a national and global leader. Wisconsin Farm Bureau appreciate Sen. Baldwin’s commitment to providing the necessary funding needed to help Wisconsin’s dairy industry develop new products and access emerging markets with the introduction of the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025.”

“The Midwest Dairy Coalition applauds Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for their continued leadership in providing dairy farmers and dairy businesses with the resources to innovate and diversify their operations for a more economically sustainable future,” said Steve Etka, Policy Director, Midwest Dairy Coalition. 

“IDFA applauds Senators Baldwin and Blackburn for introducing the Dairy Business Innovation Act of 2025.  The bill promotes innovation in the dairy processing sector and will help industry members work together to address common challenges and create new market opportunities for healthy and nutritious dairy products,” said International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M.