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WCMA

Wisconsin shows dairy’s statehouse playbook

Rebekah Sweeney

Rebekah Sweeney is senior director of programs and policy at the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, Madison, Wisconsin. WCMA contributes this column monthly for Cheese Market News®.

When hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake — and billions in long-term dairy demand hang in the balance — you lean in to the policy process. That’s what Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) members did this month, advancing state-level action on nutrition funding, water regulation and more that could serve as a blueprint for dairy manufacturers nationwide.

• SNAP funding fix

Federal policy changes enacted in 2025 require all states to assume a far larger share of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) costs — increasing administrative responsibility from roughly 50% to 75% and, in many cases, requiring states to pay between 5% to 15% of benefit costs for the first time.
Shoring up Wisconsin’s SNAP offering, called FoodShare, will cost $69 million biennially and mean the addition of more than 50 new state staffers — and the proposal was a tough sell for the majority Republican caucuses. But, without action, Wisconsin could face penalties exceeding $200 million annually, the real prospect that some people could go hungry and yet another disruption to the marketplace.

FoodShare delivers more than $1 billion in annual food purchasing power into Wisconsin’s economy. A substantial share — conservatively, hundreds of millions — goes to Wisconsin-produced foods, including milk, cheese, yogurt and butter.

Recognizing the stakes, WCMA led a broad coalition supporting a fix. Grocers, hunger relief organizations, health care providers, agricultural partners and food manufacturers rallied around a unified message: Protecting FoodShare protects both vulnerable families and the food supply chain.

The coalition reignited negotiations, with lawmakers ultimately discussing attaching funding to a previously proposed SNAP waiver bill — one of many being debated nationwide — limiting candy and soda purchases.
In working with lawmakers, WCMA helped the Assembly advance legislation providing full funding and position authority, along with financial support for a new SKU-based system to track allowable purchases under a waiver. Important to dairy, we also secured a revised definition of “candy,” clarifying that dairy-rich protein bars are not inadvertently included within state-level restrictions.

As states assume greater SNAP cost responsibility, they are also taking on more significant roles in shaping SNAP policy — making engagement at this level of government more critical than ever.

• PFAS remediation and liability

Lawmakers also advanced legislation addressing another hot topic nationwide, PFAS remediation and liability — an issue which carries significant financial risk for food manufacturers.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals long used for resistance to heat, water, grease and stains. Because they break down slowly, they are known as “forever chemicals.” Research has linked PFAS exposure to health concerns and widespread environmental presence.

States are rapidly advancing new PFAS restrictions and reporting requirements. In Wisconsin, legislation would unlock more than $130 million in remediation funds, largely supporting new wells with PFAS filtration. However, early drafts included liability language potentially exposing certain industries to damages.

Dairy farmers and processors did not contribute to PFAS contamination. Yet because they sometimes use municipal water or land where PFAS may be present, they were at risk.

WCMA members made clear they support clean water and land stewardship, operating under strict discharge permits requiring monitoring and reporting.

After weeks of negotiation, Assembly-approved language strikes a fair balance — unlocking needed funds while holding harmless farmers, processors and vendors operating within state permits. This change could save dairy processors millions in long-term liability exposure.

As a dozen states debate new restrictions, penalties and reporting mechanisms for PFAS, America’s Dairyland offers a model that could work well for our industry nationwide.

• Butter in schools

Last week’s state legislative action brought a demand-side win for dairy as well, as Wisconsin lawmakers approved legislation to expand student access to real dairy butter in schools. This action reinforces dairy’s nutritional benefits, with butter offering vitamin A, important for vision and immune health, along with energy-providing, gut-healthy nutrients while supporting long-term demand for milk fat.

The Senate must still complete action on several measures, and our work continues. But the larger lesson is clear. From SNAP financing to PFAS liability to school nutrition standards, the policy environment surrounding dairy manufacturing is becoming more consequential and complex in every state.

WCMA can identify issues, build coalitions and navigate compromise — but we need you. If your company or cooperative isn’t already part of policy conversations, join us. Decisions shaping dairy’s future are increasingly made in state capitols, not just in Washington, and your voice is essential to positive outcomes.

CMN

The views expressed by CMN’s guest columnists are their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheese Market News®.

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