AEM Hosts Lobby Day for Dairy Innovation in Madison

At the beginning of October, dairyand manure equipment manufacturers from around the world descended intoMadison, Wisconsinfor the World Dairy Expo. With the dairy industry atstatecapitol's doorstep, therewas no better timeto host a lobbyday on the importance of dairy technology.

AEM members and staffmet with state lawmakers and their offices to advocate for dairy and manure precision agriculture incentives.  Using data from AEM's Environmental Benefits of Modern Dairy, Hay, and Forage Production Technologies study, the meetings educatedlawmakers on the benefits of precision agriculture technology and discussed a model bill that could help get these technologies into the hands of Wisconsin farmers.  

Earlier this year, AEM members and staff drafted a model bill for Wisconsin that would establisha grant forsmall and medium dairy farmers in the state. The grantwould help ease adoption of new technologyand equipment, allowing Wisconsin farmersto increase workforce and environmental efficiencies.  The bill is based on an AEM-supported bill that was passedand enactedin Iowa during the 2023 legislative session.

AEM will continue to workwith Wisconsin legislators to enactthe model bill during the2025session.Wisconsin's dairyfarmers needpolicies that will allow them to prosperand continue to be America's Dairyland.

To learn more about precision agriculture incentives in other states or to get involved in AEM's advocacy efforts, please reach out to the AEM Advocacy Team. 

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