Capitol Update
by Senator Howard Marklein
June 14, 2024
Whatever Happened To…the Dairy Innovation Hub
Whatever Happened To…the Dairy Innovation Hub?
This summer, I would like to introduce a new series of columns called “Whatever Happened To…”? My goal is to provide a recap and update on an idea, bill or project that I worked on in the past. The nature of the legislative cycle often encourages us to finish working on ideas and move on. But I like to follow-up and confirm that the projects, bills and ideas I advance are accomplishing our goals. This column is one way to share this follow-up with you.
This week, let’s talk about Whatever Happened To…the Dairy Innovation Hub (DIH)?
In 2019, Representative Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) and I officially introduced the Dairy Innovation Hub bill. This bill was also co-sponsored by Senator Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan), Representative Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) and Representative Todd Novak (Dodgeville).
This bill allocated $7.9 million to create a Dairy Innovation Hub as a collaboration among UW-Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-River Falls to reprioritize and restore focus on dairy innovation in Wisconsin. The idea was a direct result of the hard work of the Dairy Task Force 2.0, which was revived by Governor Scott Walker in June 2018 to maintain a viable and profitable dairy industry in Wisconsin.
The goal of this investment was to attract and support world-class researchers to lead focused research in four sectors:
1. Steward Land and Water Resources
2. Enrich Human Health and Nutrition
3. Ensure Animal Health and Welfare
4. Grow Farm Businesses and Communities.
They planned to address water quality issues, develop new and unique dairy products, examine new, non-food uses for dairy products, apply dairy research to real-life issues, open new markets for Wisconsin dairy products and actively deploy research discoveries to the dairy industry.
So, whatever happened to the DIH? Is it still going? Are they accomplishing our goals?
The DIH is going strong. Every year, taxpayers invest $7.8 million in the DIH and the three campuses continue to collaborate on a wide variety of projects and initiatives. The hub has funded more than 200 projects including equipment investments, faculty research fellowships to focus on specific projects, graduate assistants to help with research and a variety of other initiatives. More than $3.1 million has been invested in dairy talent and 528 students and trainees have been engaged in research and infrastructure for the hub. They have provided hundreds of presentations to live audiences and have published more than 200 articles, abstracts or posters about the research. Their annual reports summarize all of the work they are doing: https://dairyinnovationhub.wisc.edu/news/annual-report/
While you can view all of the projects here: https://dairyinnovationhub.wisc.edu/project-showcase/, following is a quick highlight of a few projects that have caught my eye:
“A new approach to nutrient management planning on Wisconsin dairy farms.” This project aligns with Dairy Task Force 2.0 Recommendation #47 – a need for regulatory certainty and consistency. The goal of the project is to create a digital and interactive nutrient management planning workbook to train dairy farmers to develop functional nutrient management plans. In other words, this project will give farmers new tools and training to make decisions about feeding their herds.
“Application of dairy components in improving chronic disease risk.” This project is looking for ways to use dairy to help prevent lean mass loss after bariatric surgery in postmenopausal women. In other words, it’s looking for ways to use dairy as medicine!
“Assessing soil health and forage quality in dairy agricultural systems using multispectral and thermal sensors onboard of an unmanned aerial vehicle.” This project is using drones to monitor and sample soils and crops to reduce the need for intensive field data collection that are a burden to producers. They can collect better data more efficiently and effectively using technology so that producers can make adjustments.
Again, the goal of the DIH was to combine the academic and research capabilities of UW-Madison, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls to make sure Wisconsin is a dairy superpower now and into the future.
Most of the projects and relationships that are resulting from the hub will impact the industry and I think this investment has accomplished our goals so far. The DIH provides annual updates and regular briefings for legislators and others who are interested. I encourage you to visit www.dairyinnovationhub.wisc.edu to learn more.
As always, if you need assistance with any state-related matters, please call our team at the State Capitol – 608-266-0703 – or email me – Sen.Marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov. My team is ready, and willing, to help navigate your state government, clear obstacles and receive your input.
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