Gov. Evers, DATCP Announce Investments to Support Wisconsin's Meat Processing Industry

Thanks to budget investments secured by the governor, the successful Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Program will continue supporting the profitability and sustainability of the state’s meat processing facilities and workforce

MADISON - Gov. Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), today announced nine Wisconsin meat processors will receive 2025 Meat Processor Infrastructure grants. These grants help local meat processors with projects to modernize and grow their businesses, produce new products, or expand their markets, while improving profitability and sustaining the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s meat processing facilities.  

This announcement comes as earlier this month, Gov. Evers was proud to sign the bipartisan 2025-27 Biennial Budget, which builds upon the governor’s and the Evers Administration’s efforts to support Wisconsin’s farmers and farm families, producers, and processors. The bipartisan state budget includes several substantial investments in the state’s agricultural industry, as well as an additional $1 million to bolster the successful Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Program, which often receives far more requests than funding available.

“For the past six years, I’ve been proud to support our meat processing industry to ensure our farmers, farm families, producers, and processors have the resources and support they deserve so they can continue to produce the high-quality products Wisconsin is known for and keep our supply chain moving,” said Gov. Evers. “These grants work to uplift our local meat processors, bolster the industry, and grow innovation right here in Wisconsin, and I’m excited that we were able to secure additional funding in our bipartisan budget to continue to grow this highly successful program into the future.”

Thanks to investments secured by Gov. Evers in the 2023-25 Biennial Budget, a total of $250,000 was available for this round of the Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Program, with a maximum of $50,000 allowed for each project. Grant recipients are required to provide a match of 100 percent of the grant amount. DATCP received 51 grant requests totaling more than $2.2 million.

The Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant recipients and their planned projects are: 

• Almena Meat Company Inc. in Barron County: Purchase new efficient carcass cooler, doubling carcass storage space. 
• Good News Farm LLC in Pepin County: Purchase equipment to become an official poultry harvest establishment.
• Brock’s Butcher Block in Monroe County: Purchase rollstock machine to alleviate harvest bottleneck.
• County Pride Meats in Rock County: Expand building to include more retail space and new sausage room.
• Malterer Meats in Dodge County: Purchase new Poly-clip machine to increase efficiency.
• 45 Meats LLC in Langlade County: Purchase mixer/grinder and scale to increase efficiency.
• Hickory Hills Country Meats LLC in Calumet County: Purchase equipment to increase harvest capacity.
• Butcher Block 66 in Portage County: Expand freezer and hot water system to increase harvest capacity. 
• Hickerson Meats & Processing LLC in Burnett County: Build new a processing and retail area. 

For more information on meat processor grants, visit the DATCP website here.  

EVERS ADMINISTRATION’S EFFORTS TO BOLSTER WISCONSIN’S AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

Gov. Evers, over the past six years, has secured critical investments for farmers, producers, and their families, including supporting the state’s meat and dairy producers, investing in farmer mental health resources, and bolstering Wisconsin’s exports worldwide. Gov. Evers recognizes that Wisconsin’s $116 billion agricultural industry is as critical to the state economy as it is to Wisconsin’s heritage and culture, and ensuring its continued growth and success for generations to come will be critical to ensuring Wisconsin’s continued growth and success.    

In addition to $1 million to bolster and support the Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant Program in the most recent 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers earlier this month, this budget builds upon efforts of the Evers Administration to date to support Wisconsin’s agricultural industry and proud heritage as “America’s Dairyland,” by providing:   

• $150 million to continue support for the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program, created by Gov. Evers in the 2023-25 biennium, ensuring the ongoing improvement Wisconsin’s rural roads to help farmers and producers and the state’s agricultural and forestry industries move products to market safely and efficiently;
• $30 million of the $150 million secured for ARIP will be specifically targeted to bridge and culvert repair to help improve and repair deteriorating bridges across the state.
• $20 million to create a new state program designed to support dairy and agriculture resilience;
• $10 million to continue the Food Security Initiative, a program created by Gov. Evers that connects local nonprofit food assistance programs, such as food pantries, with local producers to keep shelves stocked;  
• $3 million to continue the Tribal Elder Food Security program that helps Tribal elders access nutritious, culturally relevant food while supporting Wisconsin producers; 
• $800,000 to increase the available funding for the successful Dairy Processor Grant Program; 
• Over $2.4 million over the biennium for the Meat Inspection Program to ensure meat products are produced safely and match nutrition labels; 
• $200,000 to support farmers and their families’ mental health; 
• $500,000 to increase funding for the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program, which helps enable producers and producer-led groups to implement nonpoint source pollution abatement strategies to improve Wisconsin’s soil and water quality;  
• $2 million to continue the commercial Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program, which aims to protect vital soil and water resources; and 
• An additional $1.6 million to support the cover crop insurance program, which helps assist farmers with rebates of $5 per acre of a cover crop planted for crop insurance premiums paid on those acres. 

Additionally, Gov. Evers, who began 2025 by declaring it the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin, has been clear from the beginning of this biennial budget process that his top priority in the 2025-27 Biennial Budget would be to pass a pro-kid budget that makes meaningful investments in Wisconsin’s kids at every stage and every age, from early childhood to K-12 to our higher education institutions, as well as supporting our Ag industry and the dedicated farmers and farm families that lead it. More information about the bipartisan pro-kid budget signed by Gov. Evers is available here. 

An online version of this release is available here.