WASHINGTON — The nation’s four Dairy Business Innovation centers joined 16 bipartisan leaders of state departments of agriculture and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) in requesting clarity on the future of Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) funds.

With President Donald Trump implementing freezes on some federal funding, IDFA, the innovation centers and agriculture leaders co-wrote to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) secretary Brooke Rollins a letter detailing how funds appropriated by Congress – a total of $11.04 million obligated in 2024 – are essential and enhance the US dairy industry’s “capacity, vitality and innovation.”

The letter specifically inquired about the following funds:  

• The Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, Pacific Coast Coalition, hosted by California State University, Fresno, owes $8,838,343 in reimbursements to its grantees.

• The Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, hosted by the University of Tennessee, owes

$3,449,632 in reimbursements to grantees.

• The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture Food and Markets, owes $9,949,000 in reimbursements to grantees.

• The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, owes $6,416,447 in reimbursements to grantees.

The authors wrote: “From small farmstead grants, to processing equipment support for regional and national dairy processors, to operational support for multi-generational family businesses responsible for our nation’s milk, cheese and yogurt, the [DBI initiatives] offer a range of grants for hundreds of businesspeople who are pursuing the ‘American Dream.’ Project examples include new processing endeavors, new product and packaging development, export exploration, and all are fundamentally matching private resources with public funding to grow and modernize the dairy industry.”

The DBI program was established as part of the 2018 Farm Bill, establishing regional dairy innovation hubs in California, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin. USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service administers DBI initiatives, tailoring grant access to dairy farmers and small- to medium-sized dairy businesses.

The letter sent to Rollins noted the regional innovation centers bring together “farmers, industry partners and academia to tackle production, processing and marketing needs” within the dairy industry.

The groups also said they welcomed an opportunity to share more about individual dairy farmers and businesses who have benefited from DBI grants.

Pending the completion of USDA’s review of the program, the co-authors asked that the funds be released to the innovation centers so grantees may receive their funding.

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, which helps administer DBIA, also wrote to Rollins requesting funds to be unfrozen.