Governor Doyle Announces Milk Volume Production Loans

MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle today announced that six Wisconsin dairy producers will receive $630,000 in loans from the Department of Commerce (Commerce) Milk Volume Production (MVP) program to increase milk production in Wisconsin.


 


“As Governor, I’ve made growing our agriculture industry a top priority of my administration,” Governor Doyle said.  “We’ve made a lot of progress in helping Wisconsin’s farmers compete and succeed in a global marketplace.  We must continue to support the dairy industry, and I am pleased that we can help producers make new investments in their businesses and add jobs.”


 


The projects are as follows:


 



  • Country Aire Farms, LLC, of Greenleaf will receive a $200,000 MVP loan. The farm comprises 3,600 acres and a 1,025-cow herd. The farm will use its loan to expand the herd to 1,725-head and to create six jobs. The farm is investing an additional $2.9 million to expand the diary operation. The dairy has been chosen to host the 2008 Farm Technology Days.

 



  • J&J Pickart Dairy, LLC, of Malone will receive a $150,000 MVP loan. The dairy is a family-owned operation comprising 502 acres and a 310-cow herd.  The dairy will use the loan to expand the herd to 600-head. In addition, the construction of a freestall barn and associated support equipment and buildings will bring expansion costs to $3.5 million. The project will create four jobs.

 



  • Rahmer Family Farm of Malone will receive a $50,000 MVP loan. The farm comprises 435 acres and an 80-cow herd, and will use its loan to expand the herd to 180-head, creating two and a half jobs.  The Rahmers will also modernize the operation at a total project cost of $415,000. 

 



  • Arrowhead Farm Partnership of Chippewa Falls will receive a $100,000 MVP loan.  he farm partnership comprises 700 acres and a 225-cow herd.  The farm will use the loan to expand the herd to 425-head.  The project will create three jobs and leverage $295,000 in private investment.

 



  • Daniel and Jacqueline Holub of Boyd will receive an $80,000 MVP loan. The farm comprises 300 acres and a 105-cow herd. It will use the loan to expand the herd to 225-head and create three jobs. The Holubs will invest an additional $320,000 to modernize the operation. 

 



  • Chad and Brenda Webster of Gilman will receive a $50,000 MVP loan. The Websters currently farm over 1,200 acres and manage a 100-cow herd. They will use the loan to expand the herd to 200 cows and create six jobs.  The Websters are modernizing the operation at a total project cost of $599,000.

 


For more information on Commerce programs and services, contact the Commerce area development manager at: www.commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-Fax-0901.html.