WCMA Applauds $77.8 Million Dairy Industry Impact of Ag Roads Improvement Program

 By Grace Atherton

Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today applauded investments of $77.8 million in rural road improvement projects benefiting Wisconsin dairy processors and farmers. The amount, which is part of the second round distributed through the Wisconsin Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP), represents approximately 77 percent of the $101 million in total funding awarded in this phase.

“These impactful investments in Wisconsin’s rural road infrastructure are felt not only in dairy processing plants, but throughout the communities they serve. Our entire food supply chain depends on – and benefits from – programs like ARIP. We’re sincerely grateful to Governor Tony Evers, our strong partners at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle – in particular, State Senator Howard Marklein and State Representative Travis Tranel -  who have worked collaboratively to make these grants a reality,” said WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy Rebekah Sweeney.

Dairy processors directly benefiting from ARIP awards include Agropur, Bel Brands, Burnett Dairy, Chalet Cheese Cooperative, Decatur Dairy, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Gilman Cheese, Integrity Cheese Packaging, K&K Cheese, LaGrander's Hillside Dairy, Mullins Cheese, Pasture Pride Cheese, Renard's Cheese, Revela Foods, Springside Cheese, and Two Guernsey Girls Creamery.