Earlier this month, AEM appeared before the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Agriculture and Revenue on the creation of a Dairy Innovation Fund to support the state’s small and mid-size dairy farms. Chelsea Jerominski with the AEM Advocacy Team was joined by Brad Shaller and Jim Miller from BouMatic, as well as Steph Faymoville from GEA, to testify in favor of Senate Bill 323 (SB 323). SB 323 will create a zero-interest revolving loan program for dairy farmers with less than 714 cows to invest in new technology and innovative equipment.
The hearing served as an opportunity for AEM and the equipment manufacturing industry to highlight major concerns that dairy farmers in the state are facing and how modern dairy equipment can help them thrive in today’s marketplace. AEM’s testimony highlighted how rising costs, labor shortages, and industry consolidation have led Wisconsin to lose half of its farms in the past ten years.
Modern dairy equipment provides these farmers with significant labor, environmental, and economic benefits that can help them stay afloat. In her testimony, Jerominski explained that “modern dairy and manure equipment help small dairy farmers to maximize the yield produced from each animal and minimize their use of resources like land, feed, and water. These decreases equate to lower costs for farmers and help small farmers maximize some of the competitive advantages otherwise afforded to larger farming corporations.”
BouMatic and GEA echoed these points and underscored the positive impact of equipment on workforce recruitment and retention. This equipment brings about a cleaner and less laborious work environment, which in turn makes it easier to attract employees.
AEM and its member companies concluded by urging the committee to advance SB 323, which would bring timely relief and a pathway to better compete for small and medium dairy farms. SB 323 is still awaiting a vote in committee, but AEM will continue to work with lawmakers to advocate for passage of the bill before the end of the year.
