VALUE ADDED DAIRY INITIATIVE YEAR FIVE ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS SPECIALTY CHEESE INCREASE
News Date June 22, 2009
MADISON – Specialty cheese production in Wisconsin rose by seven percent from 2007 to 2008 now totaling 429 million pounds, accounting for 17 percent of the state’s total cheese production.
The Value Added Dairy Initiative (VADI) Year Five Annual Report showcases the success of the initiative’s impact on specialty cheese production and reinvigorating the dairy industry. VADI was launched in 2004 by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection in collaboration with state, federal, and private partners.
"Our world-renowned cheesemakers have grown our total market share of specialty cheese from 12% in 2002 to almost 20% today," explains Secretary Rod Nilsestuen. "This is remarkable progress and innovation in Wisconsin’s growing cheese industry."
Wisconsin currently produces over 600 varieties of high quality specialty cheese, while the number of plants producing specialty cheese increased to 99 of Wisconsin’s 138 cheese plants. Feta continued to be the state’s most popular cheese, with a three percent increase in production. Other popular varieties showing increased production include Asiago, Blue, Hispanic types, Parmesan Wheel, and specialty Provolone.
Additional highlights from the report indicate that Wisconsin’s 2008 milk production increased by 2.5 percent, reaching 24.7 billion pounds. This production positions Wisconsin to break the all-time milk production record in 2009, which was set in 1988 at 25 billion pounds.
Reinvestments into all areas of the Wisconsin dairy industry are evident in a survey by the National Agriculture Statistics Service and the Dairy Plant Directory. Dairy plants have invested $1.24 billion to modernize their operations during the past five years. Projections for the next five years anticipate an additional $781 million in planned reinvestments using a variety of VADI tools and services.
VADI is an important component of Governor Doyle’s Next Generation Agriculture Plan. With the support of Senator Herb Kohl and Congressman Dave Obey, the program has obtained $8.8 million in federal funds over five years of programming. These federal funds have been matched by in-kind contributions from agencies and organizations across Wisconsin’s dairy sector.
This report is available online at www.datcp.state.wi.us, search for "value added dairy initiative." Individuals may request hard copies by sending in names and address to Nicole Breunig, nicole.breunig@wisconsin.gov or calling 608-224-5080. (Contact: Ashley Huibregtse at: 608-224-5002)