Dairy Innovation Hub

The Dairy Innovation Hub is based on legislation originally introduced by Senator Howard Marklein and Representative Travis Tranel on May 1, 2019, and the original Dairy Innovation Hub concept that was endorsed 27-1 by the Dairy Task Force 2.0 in December 2018.

The original legislation directed 52% of the funding to UW-Madison CALS and 24% each to UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls, home to UW System’s other agricultural programs. This represents a significant increase in state funding for agricultural research at each of the three campuses.

The funding will support research personnel, farms and labs in four areas related to dairy that each span many academic disciplines:

• Stewarding land and water resources
• Enriching human health and nutrition
• Ensuring animal health and welfare
• Growing farm businesses and communities

“This is a wonderful opportunity for increased collaboration among our campuses,” said Dale Gallenberg, Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences at UW-River Falls. “We look forward to serving as a model for other collaborative initiatives within the UW System.”

UWRF Steering Committee

• Steve Kelm, Animal and Food Science Department Chair
• Peter Rayne, Animal and Food Science Professor
• Holly Dolliver, Plant and Earth Science Department Chair
• Brenda Boetel, Agricultural Economics Department Chair
• Joel Peterson, Agricultural Engineering Technology Department Chair
• Greg Zwald (ex-officio), Farm Director
• Dean Olson, Interim Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

Advisory Council

The Dairy Innovation Hub’s Advisory Council has 11 members, including five dairy industry leaders, five faculty from participating universities and one representative from DATCP. The representative from UWRF is Steve Kelm. Read more.