The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said it will invest $11 million to “support resiliency” in the country’s dairy sector.
The funding will support dairy businesses and producers under the department’s Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant programme.
These initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products.
This year’s funds are being awarded to four current DBI initiatives at California State University; the University of Tennessee; Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets; and the University of Wisconsin.
The initiatives will use the funding to provide technical assistance and sub-award funds to dairy farmers and businesses in these regions, supporting them with business plan development, marketing, and branding, as well as increasing access to production and processing techniques to support the development of value-added products.
Commenting on the funding, US Secretary for Agriculture, Tom Vilsack said: “USDA is committed to helping America’s dairy industry remain competitive as they work hard to provide necessary, nutritious dairy products to communities nationwide.
“Through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, we aim to help the dairy industry access new and better markets, spur innovation, and create economic growth,” Vilsack added.
He added: “To date, the initiatives have invested over $64 million into more than 600 projects that are increasing dairy supply chain resiliency, creating new markets, and expanding economic growth in rural economies.”
Ornua lose US trademark case
In other news coming out of the US, a judge has rejected claims made by Ornua, the owner of the Kerrygold butter brand, that the similarity of a competitor’s packaging to its own would cause confusion among consumers.
The case brought before the US District Court in the southern district of New York centred on the packaging on two unsalted Irish butters: Kerrygold and Tipperary.
Ornua produce and sell Kerrygold unsalted Irish butter in grocery stores across the US. In 2021, Abbey Specialty Foods also began selling an unsalted Irish butter, Tipperary, in the US.
In a ruling issued this week, US District Court Judge Jessica G. L. Clarke found that the two packages are not likely to be confused and granted summary judgment in favor of Abbey.
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