The Dairy Business Association (DBA), Wisconsin’s leading dairy advocacy group, congratulated state lawmakers and the governor for creating a program aimed at increasing exports of dairy, meat and other agricultural products by 25 percent within five years.
Gov. Tony Evers signed legislation that commits $5 million for a new agricultural exports program at the Center for International Agribusiness Marketing, housed in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Half the expenditure will be committed to dairy. DATCP will work on the initiative with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).
The bill, which was authored by Sen. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, and Rep. Tony Kurtz, R-Wonewoc, received broad bipartisan support. Evers, a Democrat, proposed a similar export program last session and in his 2021-23 budget.
