Governor delivers weekly radio address highlighting key efforts to support state’s farmers and producers 

Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today kicked off June Dairy Month by celebrating and highlighting Wisconsin’s dairy industry, farmers and producers, and the state’s proud dairy heritage in his weekly radio address. Gov. Evers will be visiting with dairy farmers, processors, producers, and local community and agricultural industry leaders throughout the upcoming month to highlight the strength of the state’s dairy industry, as well as efforts and investments by the governor and the Evers Administration to support Wisconsin’s farmers, their families, and the dairy industry. A copy of the governor’s 2025 June Dairy Month proclamation is available here. 

Wisconsin’s dairy industry is a significant part of the state’s cultural heritage and a central driver of the state’s economy. Here in “America’s Dairyland,” Wisconsin has more dairy farms than any other state in the nation that support a more than $50 billion industry in the state and over 120,000 jobs.

Gov. Evers has long been a champion for Wisconsin’s farm families, agricultural and farm industries, and rural communities, including creating the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports to boost the export of dairy, meat, crop, and other products by 25 percent. Under Gov. Evers, Wisconsin is on its way to becoming a top 10 state in the country for agricultural exports. The governor previously created the Wisconsin Office of Rural Prosperity at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to provide assistance to Wisconsinites in navigating state programs and resources tailored to rural communities, businesses, and workers. 

The governor has also long advocated for increasing funding for meat and dairy processing to support the state’s supply chain and important initiatives such as supporting farmer mental health through increased funding for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s (DATCP) Farmer Wellness Program through the Wisconsin Farm Center. Gov. Evers also approved an $8.8 million investment to support the development of the Dairy Innovation Hub at the University of Wisconsin System to boost dairy research and innovation. Additionally, Gov. Evers directed $100 million to support Wisconsin farmers in all 72 counties through the Wisconsin Farm Support Program.

Gov. Evers knows that farmers, farm families, and producers have been the backbone of our state for generations, so when President Donald Trump announced reckless tariff taxes and started picking fights with Wisconsin’s largest export partners, hurting Wisconsin’s economy and farmers, and driving up costs for gas and groceries, the governor got right to work. Gov. Evers proposed a state budget that invested over $80 million to support Wisconsin’s farmers and agricultural industries, including key efforts to help farmers and producers navigate economic volatility and uncertainty caused by irresponsible tariff taxes and trade wars, including: 

• Increased staffing and funding for the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports, which was created by Gov. Evers in 2021 to promote Wisconsin exports, to continue to support farmers and producers wanting to expand into new markets and increase output. The proposal also removes a cap on the total amount of funding that DATCP can expend per year, providing more flexibility for this initiative;
• An additional $1.2 million to support the Dairy Processor Grant Program, which supports Wisconsin’s dairy processors to support the state’s dairy supply chain;
• Creating a new pilot program to help support on-farm projects that improve resilience and efficiency of farm operations, including upgrading IT infrastructure or milking equipment;
• Increasing funding for the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin and Something Special from Wisconsin marketing programs;
• Supporting the Food Security Initiative that connects food banks with local farmers and producers, as well as creating a Farm to Fork program to connect farmers with local entities that have cafeterias, like businesses, hospitals, and universities; 
• Doubling funding for the farmer mental health support, including a 24/7 crisis helpline, counselor vouchers, and virtual counseling; and
• Additional funding for the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program that supports groups working to improve water quality and prevent runoff, among several other proposals, among several other proposals. 

Unfortunately, Republicans on the state’s budget committee gut over 600 proposals from the governor's budget proposal, including several key investments to support Wisconsin farmers, farm families, and the agricultural industry as a whole. Republican lawmakers voted against:  

• Helping farmers and producers connect with local food pantries to strengthen the state’s food supply chain;  
• Creating a new pilot program to support projects that improve resilience and modernize operations for dairy producers;  
• Bolstering the meat processing workforce to ensure a strong supply chain for producers and consumers;
• Establishing “Truth-in-labeling” protections for milk and dairy products to prohibit products from being labeled as milk or dairy unless the product is made from a cow or another mammal; 
• Supporting programs like the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin and Something Special From Wisconsin Grant Programs that promote marketing of local products, get products into local markets, and reduce food waste; and
• Helping farmers navigate market disruptions and volatility caused by tariffs by providing dedicated support staff, including regional support staff and a dedicated agricultural economist.

More information on the more than 600 proposals stripped from Gov. Evers’ 2025-27 Executive Budget is available here.

Hey there, folks! Governor Evers here to kick off June Dairy Month!

Dairy is more than a $50 billion industry in our state. This month, we celebrate the hardworking folks who make it all happen—who churn out the best ice cream, produce the best darn cheese in the world, and who have helped make us the state we are today.

I’ve been proud to support the industry by increasing funding for dairy processors, bolstering our exports across the globe, and supporting industry research through the Dairy Hub and Center for Dairy Research at UW-Madison—and more!

And building on this work, I proposed a budget that made significant investments to continue our support for Wisconsin farmers, farm families, and the agricultural industry as a whole.

My budget continues our work to bolster our ag exports, invest in our meat and dairy processors, support farmer mental health, and farmer-led conservation efforts, and so much more.

While these investments are still on the table, unfortunately, Republicans on the state’s budget committee cut many key initiatives from my budget proposal.

They voted against a new pilot program to help dairy farmers improve and modernize their operations and “truth in labeling” protections for milk and dairy products.

They voted against efforts to promote Wisconsin products through our Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin and Something Special from Wisconsin programs, as well as programs that connect farmers to local organizations, like food pantries and hospitals.

And they voted against providing staff to help farmers navigate market disruptions and economic volatility caused by reckless tariff taxes and trade wars.

With threats of federal funding cuts to critical programs that farmers depend on, like SNAP and Local Food Purchase Assistance, we cannot turn our backs on Wisconsin farmers.

Here in America’s Dairyland, we stand up for our farmers, farm families, and producers.

So, this month and every month, I’m going to fight like hell to make darn sure our farmers have the resources and support they deserve. Thank you.

An online version of this release is available here.