Wisconsin Governor Announces Dairy Taskforce

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Tuesday announced the formation of a task force to assist the state’s suffering dairy industry. Walker directed the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture to create the Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0.  He says  the effort will enable stakeholders to come together to make recommendations needed to maintain a viable and profitable dairy industry. In statement, Walker said: "We need to work together to develop a strategy to maintain our state's legacy as the Dairy State."  The task force is similar to one developed in 1985, called the Wisconsin Dairy Task Force, which comprised of 31 individuals including dairy farmers, milk processors and allied organizations. Wisconsin is home to more dairy farms than any other state, and about 96 percent of the state's dairy farms are family owned. Wisconsin's dairy industry creates nearly 80,000 jobs and generates $43.4 billion in economic impact every year, nearly half of agriculture's total economic impact.