Gov. Evers, DATCP Announce Dairy Processor Grant Recipients, Next Application Period Open

“Dairy will always be a central part of who we are as a state, and ensuring our dairy producers and processors have the support and resources they need to grow their operations will always be an investment worth making,” said Gov. Evers. “Especially now, as federal chaos makes the agricultural landscape all the more volatile for our hardworking farmers and producers, doing all we can to support those who help keep Wisconsin proudly on the map as America’s Dairyland is crucial.”

Since the program started in 2014, DATCP has received 297 Dairy Processor Grant proposals requesting more than $12.5 million, and as of this latest grant round, has funded 158 of those proposals totaling $4.2 million. With such significant interest in these grants, Gov. Evers has continuously supported increased investments in the Dairy Processor Grant Program, and the 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers last year included an additional $800,000 increase to support Wisconsin’s dairy processors and the state’s dairy supply chain, bringing total funding for the program to $1.2 million over the biennium.     

“Dairy has a $52.8 billion impact on Wisconsin’s economy each year,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “The demand for Wisconsin’s quality dairy products continues to grow due to the quality and innovation of the state’s dairy industry. Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Evers, Dairy Processor Grants are available to support hardworking dairy processors right here in America’s Dairyland.”

A total of $600,000 is available for Dairy Processor Grants in 2027, with a maximum of $50,000 allowed for each project. Grant recipients will be required to provide a match of at least 20 percent of the grant amount. In the first round of applications, DATCP received 14 grant requests totaling more than $500,000.

The selected recipients for this round of Dairy Processor Grants include:

• Foremost Farms USA: Modernization of wastewater treatment system.
• Old Country Farms Co-op: Investment in a new line of Hispanic cheeses.
• UC Cheese LLC (Uplands Cheese): Addition of a farm store and classroom.
• Alpinage Cheese LLC: Facility layout modernization project.
• Rosewood Dairy (Renard’s Cheese): Installation of backup electrical generation capabilities.
• Kemps LLC: Workforce technical training initiative.
• Widmer’s Cheese Cellars Inc.: Warehouse modernization project.
• Penterman Zussen LLC: Launching a new gelato product.
• Blakesville Creamery: Creation of new mixed-milk cheese products.
• Oak Grove Dairy Inc.: Milk intake expansion project.

Wisconsin dairy processors are encouraged to apply for the next round of 2027 Dairy Processor Grants, open now through Nov. 3, 2026. Applications must be submitted by 12 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 3, 2026. The second round of grant recipients will be announced later this year. For more information on Dairy Processor Grants, visit DATCP’s website.

EVERS ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORTS TO SUPPORT FARMERS AND BOLSTER WISCONSIN’S AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES   
Over the past seven years, Gov. Evers has secured critical investments for farmers, producers, and their families, including supporting the state’s meat and dairy producers, investing in farmer mental health resources, and bolstering Wisconsin’s exports worldwide. Gov. Evers recognizes that Wisconsin’s more than $116 billion agricultural industry is as critical to the state economy as it is to Wisconsin’s heritage and culture, and ensuring its continued growth and success for generations to come will be critical to ensuring Wisconsin’s continued growth and success.

In addition to $800,000 to increase the available funding for the successful Dairy Processor Grant Program, the 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers builds upon efforts of the Evers Administration to date to support Wisconsin’s agricultural industry and proud heritage as “America’s Dairyland” by providing:

• Ongoing funding for the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports (WIAE) program to continue to support farmers and producers wanting to expand into new markets and increase output and help Wisconsin navigate international markets for agriculture, forestry, and food products; 
  • Under Gov. Evers’ leadership, according to the WIAE, Wisconsin is currently ranked 10th in the nation for agricultural exports by state, up from 13th in 2021.
• $150 million to continue support for the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program, created by Gov. Evers in the 2023-25 biennium, ensuring the ongoing improvement of Wisconsin’s rural roads to help farmers and producers and the state’s agricultural and forestry industries move products to market safely and efficiently;  
  • $30 million of the $150 million secured for ARIP will be specifically targeted to bridge and culvert repair to help improve and repair deteriorating bridges across the state.  
• $20 million to create a new state program designed to support dairy and agriculture resilience;  
• $10 million to continue the Food Security Initiative, a program created by Gov. Evers that connects local nonprofit food assistance programs, such as food pantries, with local producers to keep shelves stocked;   
• $3 million to continue the Tribal Elder Food Security program that helps Tribal elders access nutritious, culturally relevant food while supporting Wisconsin producers;   
• $1 million to bolster and support the Meat Processor Grant Program;    
• Over $2.4 million over the biennium for the Meat Inspection Program to ensure meat products are produced safely and match nutrition labels;   
• $200,000 to support farmers and their families’ mental health;   
• $500,000 to increase funding for the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program, which helps enable producers and producer-led groups to implement nonpoint source pollution abatement strategies to improve Wisconsin’s soil and water quality;    
• $2 million to continue the commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program, which aims to protect vital soil and water resources; and   
• An additional $1.6 million to support the cover crop insurance program, which helps assist farmers with rebates of $5 per acre of a cover crop planted for crop insurance premiums paid on those acres.