According to a recent report from WMTV-TV, Wisconsin’s dairy industry is set to receive $20 million in pandemic rescue funds, thanks to an $80 million allocation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a part of President Biden’s historic American Rescue Plan.
While U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin casted a critical vote that secured this funding, her Republican counterpart, Sen. Ron Johnson, voted against ARP, despite the fact that it lowers costs for farmers and will “build long-term resilience of regional dairy supply chains.”
On top of opposing $20 million for Wisconsin’s dairy industry, Johnson was against investing $1.5 billion to safely reopen schools, $246 million to lower home energy costs, and $580 million to expand child care programs — explaining last month that families should be on their own because he’s “never really felt it was society’s responsibility” to help lower costs.
WMTV-TV: $80M in rescue funds to support dairy industry innovation
Key Points:
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U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont have announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is assigning $80 million in federal pandemic rescue funds to support dairy industry innovation.
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The country’s four Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives in Vermont, California, Tennessee and Wisconsin will have access to up to $20 million each.
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“‘Wisconsin’s dairy businesses are a key driver of our state’s economy and with all the challenges they face I’m working to do everything I can to help,’ Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin said.”
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“‘As our dairy economy faces supply chain challenges, this federal funding from USDA for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives will help Wisconsin dairy businesses to address those challenges, grow their business, modernize their dairy plants and reach new markets.’”
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“Leahy says the additional funding couldn’t arrive [sic] a better time, as organic farmers in the Northeast face the loss of a key market later this year.”
Read the full report here.
