Dept. of Commerce: Gov. Doyle Announces Dairy Development Projects

Contact:
Tony Hozeny, 608/267-9661

MADISON— Gov. Jim Doyle today announced that six Wisconsin dairy producers have received Department of Commerce (Commerce) funding to further develop their businesses

“My Grow Wisconsin initiative calls for investing in the dairy industry to promote its growth and development,” Gov. Doyle said. “Milk Volume Production loans help Wisconsin producers increase their milk production capacity, and Dairy 2020 grants provide professional planning assistance as they consider initiatives to improve on-farm profitability.”

The projects are as follows:

D-Lucks, LLC, Abbottsford, Marathon County, $87,500 MVP loan

D-Lucks, LLC, milks 250 cows and farms 730 acres. It is modernizing and expanding the dairy operation. The loan will be used to add 175 cows to the herd. This project will create two positions, retain four positions, and leverage $525,000 in additional investment.

Park Avenue Dairy, LLC, Merrill, Lincoln County, $90,000 MVP Loan. Park Avenue Dairy, LLC, milks 280 cows. It is to expand and modernize the dairy operation. The loan will be used to add 180 cows to the herd. This project will create two positions, retain six positions, and leverage $211,000 in additional investment.

Neighborhood Dairy, Kaukauna, Outagamie County, $91,000 MVP loan.

Neighborhood Dairy milks 478 cows and farms 1,169 acres. It is modernizing and expanding the dairy operation. The loan will be used to add 182 cows to the herd. This project will create three positions, retain 11 positions, and $628,000 in additional investment.

Plainview Stock Farms, Inc., Albany, Green County, $3,000 Dairy 2020 grant.
Plainview Stock Farms, Inc., will use its grant to evaluate the feasibility of expanding a Heifer raising business.

Ross E. Stowell, Burlington, Walworth County, $3,000 Dairy 2020 grant.
Ross E. Stowell will use his grant to evaluate the feasibility of expanding the herd to 180 cows.

Wilmilk Farms, LLC, Clintonville, Waupaca, $3,000 Dairy 2020 grant.

Wilmilk Farms, LLC, will use its grant to evaluate the feasibility of expanding and modernizing its operation.

David Zygarlicke, Marshfield, Wood County, $3,000 Dairy 2020 grant.
David Zygarlicke will use his grant to evaluate the feasibility of renting or buying a farm and purchase cows and other supplies

All Wisconsin dairy producers, both existing and start-up, are eligible to apply for the Milk Volume Production (MVP) Program. Awards are made on a competitive basis. Commerce requires that applicants submit comprehensive business plans.

The Dairy 2020 Program, administered by Commerce, helps improve the dairy business climate through business, government, and education partnerships. It also provides individual Early Planning Grants of up to $3,000 to dairy producers for professional services necessary to evaluate the feasibility of the start-up, modernization, or expansion of a Wisconsin dairy farm.

Dairy producers interested in learning more about either program should contact Tim Griswold, Commerce, at 608/266-7370.