Next Generation Agriculture Plan

Wisconsin’s dairy and agriculture industries are experiencing tremendous growth. Since 2006, state dairy exports have increased by 89 percent, a rate that outpaces national growth. Wisconsin dairy businesses have also entered many specialty markets, and the state produces about 50 percent of the nation’s specialty, organic, and value-added cheeses.
 
The Governor’s Next Generation Agriculture Plan will build on the state’s success:

• Nutrient Management Program — To complement industry efforts, the state will provide farmers with $13 million in funding for the most comprehensive nutrient management system of its kind. The advisory system will help farmer reduce runoff pollution, explore new ways to manage wastewater, and make better and safer working conditions. 
• Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative — This initiative will ensure Wisconsin farmers can grow while practicing stewardship and intelligent land management. The state will provide $800,000 to help Wisconsin farmers manage their resources, becoming more efficient producers and better stewards of the land. 
• Dairy Plant Investment Tax Credits — Wisconsin will provide $1.3 million in new tax credits for dairy plants to buy much-needed equipment and implement new technologies to become more efficient and enhance quality. Credits are available for 10 percent of modernization or expansion costs, with up to $200,000 per facility. 
• Meat Modernization Credits — This new initiative will provide up to $1 million in tax credits to modernize meat processing plants through new investment and technical assistance. The credits will help more plants become efficient and productive, strengthen partnerships between meat processors and technical colleges, and move plants toward leaner manufacturing processes. 
• Cheese Cooperatives Credits — These new credits worth $1.3 million will allow cheese cooperatives to work together to invest in new cheese plants and streamline their businesses.  
• Whey Initiative — Totaling up to $10 million in support, the whey initiative will help plants invest in the growing international market for whey to generate new revenues, helping plants across the state increase their whey capacity. Since 2006, whey exports have increased from $13 million to $37 million, an increase of 170 percent.