About DBIA
The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA) is a partnership between the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) and the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) that develops and administers programs providing technical assistance as well as grants to dairy farms and businesses in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
DBIA Goals
The overall DBIA goal is to find ways to improve the profitability of
dairy farmers and processors. This goal is in alignment with the stated
objectives of the initiative.
- Increase on-farm diversification opportunities
- Create value-added dairy products such as specialty cheeses
- Focus on export opportunities for farm-scale and processor dairy products
DBIA History
The 2018 U.S. Farm Bill that created the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative
to assist dairy farmers and dairy processors in creating new revenue
streams through farm diversification and the creation of “higher value”
food and beverage products containing a dairy ingredient. In 2019, the
USDA requested applications that resulted in the selection of three
locations as regional hosts for this initiative:
- Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (representing Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin)
- Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
- University of Tennessee
The 2018 Farm Bill lasts for five years. It is expected, pending Congress’s budgetary process, that additional annual funding will be made available annually.
For each year an award is made, the three regional centers of excellence will receive an equal amount of funding.
Initial funding from the USDA was released in late 2019, providing
approximately $460,000 to each center. The terms of the award require a
minimum of 50% of the funds to be distributed as grants to dairy based farms and processors.
On August 20, the USDA notified DBIA that they had been awarded $6.13 million to support their program plans for the next three years.
DBIA News
Baldwin, Congress Allocate $22 Million for Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) helped pass a spending package in Congress that allocates $22 million in funding for the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives in 2021.
DBIA Awards $230K to Midwest Dairy Farms and Businesses
The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), a partnership between the Center for Dairy Research (CDR) and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) announced the 13 companies and cooperatives which, via a competitive review process, have been selected to receive grants totaling $230,000. (9/14/20)
USDA Awards DBIA $6.13M
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the Center
for Dairy Research and Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) have
been
awarded $6.13 million to support continuation of the Dairy
Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), serving Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota,
South Dakota and Wisconsin. (8/20/20)