This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Patrick Geoghegan, executive vice president of industry relations for Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin.
He discusses the effects of supply chain disruptions on the state’s dairy industry, which relies heavily on exports.
“One day out of every week of dairy production is exported to other parts of the world, so any slowdown on the supply chain has a dramatic impact on the dairy industry in Wisconsin,” he said. “Exports are vital to our current operations and I think they will become increasingly important.”
Geoghegan also touches on consumer purchasing trends, and gives his perspective on how the state can leverage its strong reputation for cheese and dairy production on the global stage.
“We’re relatively new at this. We’re neophytes, really, on the export game,” he said. “And so the sky’s the limit in terms of what we can do.”
Because European cheesemakers have been making the same types of cheeses for hundreds of years, Geoghegan explains that “any variation … is somewhat frowned upon.” That creates an opportunity for Wisconsin to step in with new, innovative products, he said.
“So there’s a lack of innovation coming out of Europe, and consumers are interested in new products. They want to try different things,” he said. “And boy, the Wisconsin cheesemakers have done a tremendous job.”
Listen to the podcast below, sponsored by UW-Madison:
