Frisian Farms, a farm in Leighton, Iowa, has been awarded a Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation grant. The grant will be used to purchase a much-needed cheese cutter, according to co-owner Mike Bandstra.
The farm, which produces at least 14 kinds of gouda cheese, will benefit from the new equipment. Bandstra hopes to receive the cheese cutter by the end of the year.
The Dairy Innovation Grants program, which costs around $600,000, aims to support Iowa’s dairy industry. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig stated that the program’s total investment, including cost-sharing, is approximately $1.2 million.
Naig emphasized that the application process for the grants is highly competitive, and winners are chosen through a careful scoring process. The grants will help support Iowa’s dairy farmers and contribute to the state’s economy.
Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.
