Dairy Innovation Hub Activities

Mark Your Calendar!

The Sixth Annual Dairy Innovation Hub Dairy Summit will be held at UW-River Falls on November 18, 2025. More information will be provided closer to the event! 


Capacity Building

The FY26 Request for Proposals for Capacity Building:



Faculty Research Fellowships

The FY26 Faculty Research Fellowships:



Project Showcase

Explore the Dairy Innovation Hub’s Project Showcase. This online tool is a searchable database for all Hub-funded projects. Projects can be organized by campus, funding year, priority area and project type. Each project entry contains PI information, co-PI information (if applicable) and a project summary.

Project TitlePrincipal investigator
Growing a New UW Collaboration to Continuously Measure Groundwater Nitrate in Western Wisconsin Farm Wells Using a Novel Sensor TechnologyDr. Jill Coleman Wasik, Professor of Environmental Science
Development of Whey protein-lignin Based Film/Coating Materials for Dairy Food Packaging ApplicationsDr. Youngmi Kim, Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering
Processing-Induced Alterations in Casein Protein Digestibility and Enzymatic InteractionsDr. Grace Lewis, Assistant Professor of Food Science
Filling Existing Gaps in the Monitoring of Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Environmental Health at Mann Valley FarmDr. Susanne Wiesner Assistant Professor of Environmental Science
Project TitlePrincipal Investigator
Groundwater Fluctuations – Related Nutrient Cycling and Stream Water Quality in Agricultural Headwater AreasDr. Bahar Hassanpour, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science
Optimizing Forage Cover Crop systems for Agronomic Production and Environmental Stewardship Dr. Veronica Justen, Professor of Crop Science
Effects of using calf jackets on performance and health of purebred and crossbred dairy calves in different rearing environments.Dr. Sylvia Kehoe, Professor of Dairy Science
Effect of In-Field Prairie Strips on Nutrient Cyling and Biodiversity in Crop Production Systems: A preliminary studyDr. Natasha Rayne, Associate Professor of Soil Science
Rural Economic Development in Wisconsin: Analysis of Intergenerational Mobility and Community-Centered Case StudiesDr. James White, Associate Professor of  Agricultural Economics
Establishing a Baseline Greenhouse Gas Budget and Climate Resilience Target for the Mann Valley Dairy FarmDr. Susanne Wiesner, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science
Efficient Manure Land Application Through Innovative Tillage Systems: Feasibility and Environmental ImpactsDr. Bob Zeng, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering
Project TitlePrincipal investigator
Characterizing the Behavior and Management of Dairy Cows and Neonate Calves Shortly After BirthDr. Kate Creutzinger, Assistant Professor of Dairy Cattle Behavior and Welfare
Development of Whey Protein-lignin Based Film/coating Materials for Dairy Food Packaging ApplicationsDr. Youngmi Kim, Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering
Optimization of Casein Micelle Nanoparticle Formation Using High Pressure Homogenization and Processing AidsDr. Grace Lewis, Assistant Professor of Food Science
Efficient Manure Land Application Through Vertical Tillage Systems: Preliminary StudiesDr. Bob Zeng, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering
Project TitlePrincipal investigator
Preliminary Comparison of Carcass Composition, Average Daily Gain, and Feed Efficiency of HolSim Cattle vs. Angus x Holstein CattleDr. Arquimides Reyes, Assistant Professor of Animal Science
Updating Manure Excretion Values in SnapPlus for Better Nutrient Management PlanningDr. Joel Peterson, Professor of Agricultural Engineering
Understanding the Impact of Dairy Farm Changes on Social Capital in Rural WisconsinDr. Christopher Holtkamp, Assistant Professor of Conservation and Environmental Planning
Evaluation of Effectiveness and Pain Behaviors Between Two Caustic Paste Brands When Disbudding CalvesDr. Sylvia Kehoe, Professor of Dairy Science
Project TitlePrincipal investigator
Analysis and Publication of Dairy Cow Research DataDr. Larry Baumann, Professor of Animal Science; Steven Kelm, Professor of Dairy Science
Calf Management Practices, Animal Welfare and the Social Sustainability of the Dairy IndustryDr. Albert Boaitey, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics
Seeking Solutions to Groundwater Contamination in Agricultural Communities: Strategic Study of Factors Influencing Contaminant Transport From the Land Surface into AquifersDr. Jill Coleman Wasik, Professor of Environmental Science
Novel Dairy Cropping Systems to Enhance Economic and Environmental Resilience of Wisconsin Dairy FarmsDr. Veronica Justen, Professor of Crop Science
Improving the Health and Welfare of Dairy CalvesDr. Sylvia Kehoe, Professor of Dairy Science
UWRF Mann Valley Farm Bovine Compost Research ExpansionDr. Patrick Woolcock, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Engineering

College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences

210 Agricultural Science
611 S. 3rd St.
River Falls, WI 54022

cafes@uwrf.edu

715-425-3535