Indiana Unveils New Dairy Strategy
Benton Group owns three diary farms in Indiana. (photo courtesy of Benton Group)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana State Department of Agriculture has unveiled an updated Indiana Dairy Strategy, which focuses on business expansion, development and attraction to the state.
ISDA first issued a dairy strategy in 2015. The ag department says Indiana Dairy Strategy 2.0 was developed to better understand the state of the industry and its strengths.
“This updated dairy strategy highlights our strengths as an agriculture-focused state along with our unprecedented business climate,” said Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch. “We want to encourage processors and dairy businesses to think of Indiana when realizing expansion or adding an additional location is on the horizon.”
According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Indiana is ranked No. 15 in terms of milk production.
Last year, the state’s approximately 800 dairy farms produced 371 million pounds of milk, up 9.8% from 2019. In comparison, California dairies produced 3.3 billion pounds and Wisconsin produced 2.5 billion pounds in 2020.
The ISDA says Indiana produces a net surplus of 3.5 million pounds of milk each day, so it needs to find markets for the extra milk. The strategy includes attracting dairy processing facilities to the state.
“How can we bring in more processing,” said Doug Leman, executive director for Indiana Dairy Producers, a trade association for dairy farmers.
Leman says the updated strategy builds on the 2015 version by showing dairy-related companies that Indiana is “open for business.”
“We were ready…with the desire, the economics, the incentives, having the infrastructure,” said Leman. “So, there’s just opportunities here and to look at ways to bring in more products that we can even hopefully put on the export market.”
The strategy points out Indiana has been successful in attracting dairy-related business, including the opening of a new Walmart milk bottling plant in Fort Wayne in 2018. Last year, Dreyer’s announced an expansion of its ice cream production line in Allen County.
“Indiana consistently ranks among the top states for regulatory environment as well as tax climate,” said Victoria Herring, ISDA’s business development director. “Between Indiana’s hardworking and innovative dairy producers, business-friendly climate and first-class infrastructure…Indiana is positioned to be the preferred spot for sustainable milk production.”
To view the Indiana Dairy Strategy, click here.
ISDA Business Development Director Victoria Herring explained how Indiana is well-positioned to attract dairy businesses.