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No doubt about it – 2009 has been a really, really tough year for the dairy industry, and in a state like Wisconsin where the economy relies so heavily on dairy, it has been painful. But the state’s Dairy Business Association is determined to live up to its slogan “Keeping the cows in Wisconsin.”
Director of Business Development Tim Griswold says one way they are keeping the industry viable is by reinvesting in the future. “Wisconsin has really gone through a metamorphosis in the last 15-20 years,” Griswold says. “We’ve really seen a reinvestment in new, more modern operations. Today, over half the milk in Wisconsin is produced by operations with over 200 cows. We anticipate continued growth for those operations. So, as we continue to have people retire out of the industry, we’re going to have a vibrant industry going forward because of the transformations that have been made.”
Modernization and environmental stewardship are keys to the future of the industry in Wisconsin and Griswold says they remain optimistic that most producers will survive the current economic downturn and come out stronger than before.
Listen to or download my interview with Tim at World Dairy Expo below.