Media Contact: Neil Kline, Communications Specialist, 608-224-4520, Neil.Kline@wi.gov
MADISON – The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the University of Wisconsin System today announced the meeting schedule for the nine sub-committees of the Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0. At the August Task Force meeting, members created nine sub-committees which they volunteered to serve on. The meetings will take place in October and November at various locations around the state.
“These sub-committee meetings provide an opportunity to discuss in-depth the issues that were identified at the first Task Force meeting in August,” said Task Force Chairman Mark Stephenson. “The hope is that these sub-committees can begin to develop ideas to address these issues, and perhaps begin to report some of their preliminary thoughts back to the full Task Force at the next general meeting sometime in November or December.”
“We are pleased with the interest and commitment by those serving on the Task Force, but it is also vital that others involved in the dairy industry take time to provide their input,” said DATCP Secretary Sheila Harsdorf. “I encourage farmers, processors, and others involved in the dairy industry to share their thoughts and suggestions with the Task Force either by talking to a Task Force member or providing their comments at dairytaskforce.wi.gov.”
The Task Force is charged with making recommendations on actions needed to maintain a viable and profitable dairy industry in Wisconsin. In the late 1980’s, the UW System and DATCP created a dairy task force in response to concern over the competitiveness, profitability and economic viability of the state’s dairy industry at that time. The 75 recommendations of that task force, many of which have been implemented by the industry, have been instrumental in retaining Wisconsin as a leading dairy state.
The economic impact of the dairy industry in Wisconsin is significant, generating $43.4 billion in state-wide economic impact every year and creating nearly 80,000 jobs. The industry accounts for nearly half of Wisconsin agriculture’s total economic impact.
A listing of Task Force Sub-Committee meeting locations and dates listed below are also available online at dairytaskforce.wi.gov.
Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0
First Sub-Committee Meeting Dates and Locations
Rural Communities Support and Infrastructure
When: October 8th, 2018 at 10AM
Where: The MacKenzie Center
W7303 County Highway CS
Poynette, WI 53955
Access to Capital
When: October 15th, 2018 at 10AM
Where: Wisconsin State Patrol-
Tomah Post
23928 Lester McMullen Drive
Tomah, WI 54660-5376
Education and Workforce
When: October 22nd, 2018 at 10AM
Where: The MacKenzie Center
W7303 County Highway CS
Poynette, WI 53955
Consumer Confidence and Perception
When: October 24th, 2018 at 10AM
Where: The University of Wisconsin-
Fond du Lac
Admin/Extension Bldg.
Room 242
400 University Dr.
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
Price Volatility and Profitability
When: October 29th, 2018 at 10AM
Where: Dept. of Natural Resources
Black River Falls Office
910 HWY 54 E
Black River Falls, WI 54615
Markets
When: October 30th, 2018 at 10AM
Where: Wisconsin State Patrol
Tomah Post
23928 Lester McMullen Drive
Tomah, WI 54660-5376
Regulatory Certainty
When: October 31st, 2018 at 10AM
Where: The University of Wisconsin-
Stevens Point
Dreyfus University Center
Room 378
1015 Reserve Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Product and Process Innovation and Invention
When: November 5th, 2018 at 10AM
Where: The University of Wisconsin-
Stevens Point
Dreyfus University Center
Room 223
1015 Reserve Street
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Next Generation
When: November 7th, 2018 at 10AM
Where: Dept. of Natural Resources
Black River Falls Office
910 HWY 54 E
Black River Falls, WI 54615
