Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The Regional Dairy Modernization Task Force is making an impact on dairy producers' livelihoods as they seek to help producers modernize.

"As producers modernize, they help keep the dairy industry in Wisconsin. When they modernize, they are making a commitment to continue to be part of the dairy industry. That keeps the infrastructure here. If people want to invest in the industry, they have to have a feeling that this is a long term place to do it,” said Kevin Bernhardt, professor of agribusiness at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.

The Task Force began six years ago as an action team of the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Economic Development Coalition. The coalition consists of dairy producers, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, UW-Extension, University of Illinois Extension, Iowa State Extension, Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, local banks and a variety of other agribusinesses.

Each year, the Task Force holds two types of educational events, the annual Dairy Summit and a series of Pathways to Success on farm workshops. Through these workshops, dairy producers and the industry develop skills and knowledge, network with other producers and develop entrepreneurial confidence and support of the local community to reduce barriers to modernization. To date, the Task Force has held 34 events with 1,693 participants.

"The Task Force has had an unbelievable impact. When we started this, we didn't dream that it would do this much for this many people. It's impacted a lot of producers," said Kevin Raisbeck of First National Bank in Platteville and a member of the Regional Dairy Modernization Task Force.

From Dairy Summits II, III and IV, 53 producers said they modernized in the past year and 85 percent of those said that the summit events were very or somewhat influential in their decision. Forty three dairy industry professionals that attended the summits said they helped a client modernize in the past year. Ninety three percent said that the summits were very or somewhat influential in helping them help their clients modernize. These dairy industry professionals were involved with 279 modernizations. According to Bernhardt, modernizations can be as simple as creating a new way to handle cattle or as complex as investing in new facilities.

In addition to helping producers to modernize, the Task Force has also brought producers and dairy industry professionals together. "One of the great things about the Task Force is that it has brought business competitors together to advance the industry as a whole. It has had a positive impact on private and public business," said Bernhardt.

This year's Pathways events include a tour about transition and energy efficiency and a computer workshop for farm women. Anyone wanting more information about the Task Force or upcoming Task Force events, may contact Bernhardt at (608) 342-1365 or bernhark@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Kevin Bernhardt, professor, agribusiness, (608) 342-1365, bernhark@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu