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Professors update farmers on Wisconsin’s Dairy Innovation Hub

University of Wisconsin educators say the concept of the Dairy Innovation Hub began a year ago, and quickly became something remarkable.

Dairy Science professor Heather White told the Professional Dairy Producers virtual conference, “It resulted in something truly remarkable and reinvestment of the state into dairy research and into dairy teaching and dairy outreach.”

White says she’s excited about the collaboration between UW campuses in Platteville, River Falls, and Madison.

Dr. Steve Kelm from River Falls says their campus is hiring faculty including a dairy cattle welfare position.  Facility improvements are also underway. “We have a renovation on campus on our dairy pilot plant and our food manufacturing side, which is, once it comes online within the next twelve months will be a fantastic addition.”

Dr. Tara Montgomery says the Platteville campus is also expanding the teaching and research staff. “We have started our faculty search for a dairy nutritionist as well as an agricultural biological systems engineer looking at wastewater treatment on (the) farm.”

White, Kelm, and Montgomery gave a progress report on the Dairy Innovation Hub to the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin conference, held online Wednesday. 

Last July, The Wisconsin Legislature and Governor approved nearly eight million dollars annually to help fund the Dairy Innovation Hub.