Dave Daniels, dairy farmer from Union Grove, WI has been elected as the new chair of the Dairy Innovation Hub advisory council. Daniels serves as a director for Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and occupies the WFBF seat on the council.
Daniels says “Beginning as a member of the Dairy Task Force 2.0 that originally endorsed the Dairy Innovation Hub concept, to now serving as a member of the inaugural advisory council, I have seen first-hand the impact the Hub is having on Wisconsin and beyond. It’s an honor to help steward this investment.”
Daniels succeeds Mitch Breunig of Mystic Valley Dairy who served as the Hub’s first chair and remains on the council.
The Dairy Innovation Hub’s advisory council oversees that the Hub’s investments in university personnel, facilities, research, and training will advance the Wisconsin dairy industry. The four focus areas of the Hub’s work include: stewarding land and water resources, enriching human health and nutrition, ensuring animal health and welfare, and growing farm business and communities. The advisory council also guides the Hub’s leadership committee and faculty director, UW–Madison dairy scientist Heather White.
Chuck Nicholson and Larry Baumann joined the advisory council representing UW–Madison and UW–River Falls, respectively.
Nicholson is an associate professor of animal and dairy sciences and agricultural and applied economics, whose position is funded entirely by the Hub. His research specialties include dairy markets and policy, food systems modeling, controlled-environment agriculture, and linkages between agriculture and food security.
Baumann is a professor of animal and food science and a veterinarian. He teaches a wide variety of courses, including a course in dairy production, serves as an academic advisor for undergraduate pre-vet and vet tech majors, and is the advisor to the UW–River Falls Pre-Vet Club.
Two retiring council members were honored at the meeting that was held January 23rd. Kent Weigel, professor and chair of animal and dairy sciences at UW–Madison. Weigel remains an active member of the Hub’s Madison Steering Committee, which makes localized funding decisions at UW–Madison.
Rami Reddy was also honored for his service. Reddy is a professor of agribusiness at UW–Platteville and director of the School of Agriculture.
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