OMDG Advocacy - Maine
[[Date]]
The Honorable Susan Collins
Vice Chair
Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Vice Chair Collins,
As dairy farmers and stakeholders in Maine, along with partner businesses that source milk or have significant representation in the state, we offer strong endorsement and support for the DairyBusiness InnovationInitiative(DBII).
To ensure their continued success we urge lawmakers to pass a final fiscal year 2025 agriculture spending bill that invests [add $ amount, this will be between $17 and 23 million and dependent on House floor amendment] amongst the four DBII centers. While we believe the DBII’s have an ability to manage and award $36 million annually, securing the highest level of funding in conference negotiations is needed.
This crucial federal program provides the opportunity for regional strategies, unique partnerships and innovative solutions within the dairy industry. Critical to our economy and food security the dairy industry provides $794 billion in overall economic impact nationally[1] and generates more than $1 billion in direct economic impact for the state of Maine[2].
DBII projects convene farmers, cooperatives, industry partners, and academia to tackle production, processing, and marketing needs of the dairy industry specific to each initiative’s coverage area. Administered by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the Initiative provides resources to four regional initiatives that are headquartered in the states of Vermont, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and California. The regional initiatives then offer tailored grant opportunities to dairy businesses and other stakeholders. From small farmstead grants to processing equipment support for regional/national dairy processors, the DBIIs offer a range of awards for hundreds of projects seeking to grow and modernize the dairy industry.
Since 2019, the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), which serves an 11-state region including Maine, has been awarded $25.37 million in federal funding. In Maine specifically, $3,315,862 and 37 grants[3] have been awarded to farmers, dairy processors, brands, cooperatives, non-profit organizations, and academic institutions.
We urge you to prioritize DBII funding at the maximum level possible in the FY 2025 appropriations cycle. An investment in the DBII is an investment in the future of U.S. dairy and our nation’s economy.
We appreciate your leadership on the Seante Committee for Appropriations and welcome questions or a discussion about the importance the American dairy industry in the state of Maine.
Sincerely,
[1] International Dairy Farmers Association - https://www.idfa.org/dairydelivers
[2] Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry