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Indiana’s new dairy strategy

The goal of a new state program is to increase dairy processing in Indiana and ultimately expand the state’s dairy production.

During the Livestock, Forage, and Grain Forum on Monday, Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann unveiled the state’s new Dairy Strategy. “Recognizing that 4 million pounds of raw milk is being exported per day and roughly 4 billion pounds per year,” she says.  “Seeing the opportunity of keeping that 4 million pounds here in the state, which means additional dairy processing operations we could have.”

She says expanding the dairy processing industry in the state provides an incredible opportunity for Indiana.  “We think each facility we would attract in dairy would be a capitol investment of $250 million, an additional 250 to 300 jobs with each of those.  We think there are some great opportunities.”

And with the extra milk that is exported out of the state each day, Ellspermann says the industry could support more than one dairy processing facility.

Ellspermann says ISDA and IEDC are already looking for opportunities for expansion.  “We see this as a great opportunity and have the full support of the dairy industry,” she says.  “We are letting the word be out on the street that Indiana is open to doing business.”

“With a renewed and united focus, we can make Indiana an even more productive dairy state,” said ISDA Director Ted McKinney. “ISDA staff, along with our key partners from around Indiana, will help inform the public and dairy industry on the long term benefits of investing in milk production and dairy processing in the state of Indiana.”

ISDA’s strategy hopes to build an alliance among key dairy cooperatives to supply milk for an Indiana-based large, efficient proprietary cheese plant similar to Southwest Cheese in Clovis, New Mexico.  This would provide a viable east of the Mississippi river source of high quality cheese as an alternative to cheese manufactured west of the Mississippi purchased by food service, food ingredient, and private label retail cheese buyers.  The growing export market (largely served out of the west coast) and higher transportation costs to the East Coast markets provide an opportunity for a large-scale cheese plant in Indiana to be economically viable.

Details about ISDA’s new strategy, can be found HERE.