Madison – State Senator Rob Stafsholt’s (R-New Richmond) bill to establish a Dairy Cattle Innovation Program in Wisconsin was approved today during a floor session of the State Senate. The bill that Senator Stafsholt authored with Representative Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) would direct the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to provide no-interest loans on a revolving basis to eligible Wisconsin dairy farms for the purpose of improving farm efficiencies and milk quality, promoting animal health, and reducing negative environmental impacts, among other objectives.
“I am honored that my colleagues in the Senate voted to approve the Dairy Cattle Innovation Program and invest in our state’s dairy industry,” Senator Stafsholt commented following the bill’s passage. “These zero-interest loans will direct cash towards our smaller dairy farms to help them purchase important equipment that they might not otherwise invest in because of liquidity limitations. The best part is that this is a revolving loan program, meaning that more loans will be issued as payments on previous loans are received – ensuring investment in our family dairy farms for years to come,” said Senator Stafsholt.
Senator Stafsholt was able to secure $20 million during the state budget process as an initial investment to set the program in motion. Eligibility requirements limit the loans to small and medium-sized farms and require that recipients employ only those who are legally authorized to work in the state. Loans issued under the program are not to exceed $500,000, with a repayment term set at 10 years. “We wanted to make sure that these funds will go towards benefiting our smaller family farms and to ensure that taxpayer dollars would be properly allocated towards those who follow basic employment laws,” Senator Stafsholt commented regarding eligibility determinations.
The bill must now be passed by the State Assembly, where it has received a Public Hearing but has not yet been recommended for passage by the Assembly Committee on Agriculture. “I am confident that my colleagues in the Assembly will also recognize this great opportunity to help out our state’s family dairy farms and I hope that the bipartisan consensus in support of this historic investment in Wisconsin’s dairy industry will help our Governor make the right decision when this legislation reaches his desk,” the Senator concluded.
Senator Stafsholt represents Wisconsin’s 10th Senate District, which includes all of Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix counties, as well as portions of Dunn and Trempealeau counties.
