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Farm Events: |
Farm News: Foremost Farms Awarded Expansion GrantcommentsPosted: 03.19.2010 Foremost Farms USA® has been awarded a $3.1 million Special Agricultural Facilities Grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection for increased mozzarella production at their Appleton facility. Dave Fuhrmann, president of Foremost Farms, said, “Foremost Farms is very pleased that the Wisconsin legislature and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection have a strong desire to support and grow the state’s No. 1 industry. This grant will go toward doubling the production of mozzarella cheese at this plant.” “The combination of a strong demand for mozzarella cheese and the nearby availability of a growing milk supply among Foremost Farms members in eastern Wisconsin drove the decision to reinvest in the Appleton facility,” explained Fuhrmann. The plant currently has the capacity to produce 65 million pounds of mozzarella cheese annually for the pizza, foodservice and cheese converter markets. Foremost Farms plans to double the plant’s capacity so it can produce 130 million pounds of mozzarella annually. There are 91 people employed at the plant. The cooperative expects to add an additional 35 jobs once the construction project is complete and the facility ramps up to full production. In addition to cheese, the plant also processes whey - a by-product of cheesemaking. The whey will be made into condensed whey protein concentrate and permeate that will be processed within Foremost Farms’ plant system. “Foremost Farms appreciates the confidence of the State of Wisconsin and the financial contribution they are making to this project. It will help preserve market access for dairy farmers and provide quality products for customers who look to Wisconsin for quality cheese,” said Fuhrmann. Foremost Farms selected Miron Construction, Neenah, Wis., as the general contractor for the project which is expected to take 12 months. Foremost Farms isn't the only rural business getting financial help from the state. The competitive Special Agricultural Facility Grant funding, allocated in the 2009-2011 budget, will also support:
A $200,000 project conducted by USEMCO in Sparta to develop and demonstrate an anaerobic digester that is cost effective for small farms. Wisconsin has nearly 13,000 dairy farms, with an average herd size of fewer than 100 cows. By bringing the economy of scale down for manure digesters, many more farms will have the ability to take a potential disposal cost and turn it into a source of homegrown, renewable energy.
And a $163,000 energy efficient upgrade at Maple Leaf Cheese Co-op in Monroe to diversify operations and make more lines of specialty cheeses. Wisconsin has been a leader in expanding its specialty cheeses and now accounts for 46 percent of the U.S. market. This project would increase energy efficiency at the plant and create 11 additional employees. |