An original Wisconsin cheese made in Oconomowoc

With the push to get corn harvested behind them and machinery put away for the winter, John and Kim Koepke are in the midst of the final year end push at Koepke Family Farms – cheese gift boxes.
By: Carol Spaeth-Bauer
Source: Wisconsin State Farmer
Link: http://www.wisfarmer.com/story/news/2017/12/12/original-wisconsin-cheese-made-oconomowoc/942454001/

Alto dairy farmer recognized by Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation

WAUPUN — Local dairy farmer and Waupun School Board President Bill Bruins has received the Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture award Dec. 3.
By: HANK SNYDER
Source: Daily Citizen
Link: http://www.wiscnews.com/bdc/news/local/article_becf41d9-82a6-5302-b90d-50e33bed8ef6.html

Wagner: How Wisconsin’s dairy industry has come to rely on immigrant labor

The increasingly important role that immigrant workers play in Wisconsin’s dairy industry is relatively new. On average, dairy farmers started hiring immigrant labor around the year 2000.
By: Trisha Wagner Jackson
Source: La Crosse Tribune
Link: http://lacrossetribune.com/jacksoncochronicle/news/local/wagner-how-wisconsin-s-dairy-industry-has-come-to-rely/article_ad6d0c42-066a-52e8-aed4-da4be7e9e097.html

Dairy Industry Calls On Congress To Act On DACA

Business Groups Around Nation Part Of Campaign Pushing For Immigration Reform.
By: Shamane Mills
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
Link: https://www.wpr.org/dairy-industry-calls-congress-act-daca

China lowers cost for Wisconsin producers to export cheese to Chinese market

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind and US Dairy Export Council president and CEO Tom Vilsack praised the announcement that China lowered the tariff rate on cheese imports from 12 percent to 8percent, effective, Dec.1.
By:
Source: Wisconsin State Farmer
Link: http://www.wisfarmer.com/story/opinion/2017/12/05/china-lowers-cost-wisconsin-producers-export-cheese-chinese-market/925809001/

Wisconsin firm plans to build dairy processing campus in Greenville

BARABOO, WI – Foremost Farms USA announced it plans to build a dairy processing facility on 96 acres of land it purchased in a Greenville industrial park on Thursday, Nov. 9.
By: Jim Harger
Source: Michigan Live
Link: http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2017/11/post_141.html

Opinion: Why can’t an adequate dairy bill be passed?

This morning I looked out one of my windows and I looked at the beautiful woods behind my neighbor Jim Luce’s farm, and in the midst of all the trees, a beautiful orange ball appeared, like a big moon.
By: Arden Tewksbury
Source: Wisconsin State Farm
Link: http://www.wisfarmer.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/11/07/why-cant-adequate-dairy-bill-passed/841224001/

Wisconsin Legislator Wants to Rebrand ‘America’s Dairyland’

Rep. Scott Allen, a Republican state legislator from a Milwaukee suburb, is sponsoring a bill seeking a new logo for the State of Wisconsin, despite strong pushback from the state’s dairy and ag industries.
By: Jim Dickrell
Source: Dairy Herd
Link: https://www.dairyherd.com/article/wisconsin-legislator-wants-rebrand-americas-dairyland-0