After 20 years, the Dairy Business Association is stronger than it’s ever been. I can say confidently that the association is the most effective dairy advocacy group in Wisconsin. Members count on us to stand up for their interests in government policymaking and to provide them with other support they need to be successful, no matter their business model or farm size.
Policy work has always been at the core of DBA, and our government affairs team is second to none, whether dealing with a local government issue or state legislation in Madison.
During the past several years, we have also developed a number of other services that add value for members. The member services team is here for one-on-one support at any time, and communications support for things like social media and news media is available as well. DBA has also made incredible strides in positioning our members for success in environmental sustainability.
While the effects of the pandemic have required a lot of attention, DBA has kept moving forward. We refuse to lose momentum.
At our Dairy Day at the Capitol in January 2020, members met with dozens of lawmakers to make sure they understand what’s important to farmers and our supportive businesses. The member turnout was inspiring.
We also saw the passage of several pieces of legislation that we had pushed for, including the creation of a nutrient trading clearinghouse and a fix for the manufacturers and agriculture tax credit.
And we worked closely with members to defeat harmful and potentially illegal proposed ordinances in a number of counties. This takes vigilance, expertise and motivated members. And we have all three.
In December, DBA took an extraordinary step by announcing an initiative with three environmental groups to push for major state policy changes that support water quality and also our farmers.
Together with Clean Wisconsin, The Nature Conservancy and the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association, we are laying the groundwork for legislative efforts for water in the state budget and standalone bills this year.
This is a bold move for DBA and the other organizations as well. We have not always been on the same side of environmental policy debates. But when we sat down and talked, we realized how much our missions overlap. We all want and need clean water, and we also want and need our agricultural community to be successful.
Farmers are committed to caring for our natural resources. We do it every day. And we want the dairy community to continue to be a leader in protecting and improving water quality. We don’t want to wait around for unhelpful and ineffective regulations.
We realize that we can get more accomplished by working collaboratively. This has been proven in our close support of farmer-led watershed conservation groups. The Nature Conservancy has been a wonderful partner in those efforts, and the science is showing tangible improvement.
As always, the involvement of our members will be key to any success. I am proud of how engaged DBA’s membership has become. Participation in our advocacy makes a real difference with government decision-makers, whether it’s calling a representative, being part of our government affairs committee or testifying at a hearing in Madison.
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By Amy Penterman, DBA president
