Posted on 01/17/2026 6:30:53 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
FOX LAKE, WI — Dairy farmers across Wisconsin are celebrating new federal legislation that will bring whole milk back to school cafeterias nationwide, marking a significant shift in both nutrition policy and agricultural economics.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, supported by the Trump administration, reverses longstanding federal restrictions that have limited schools to serving only low-fat and skim milk options. The change comes as new federal dietary guidelines released this week encourage Americans to consume more whole milk, departing from recommendations that have discouraged it since 1990.
Katie Schultz, who operates Tri-Fecta Farms in Fox Lake with her siblings, said the legislation represents more than just a business opportunity for Wisconsin's dairy industry.
"I was mostly excited as a mom. My daughter is in sixth grade. The skim milk isn't what her palette likes. And so when we heard it was going to be available in the school, it was so exciting,” Schultz said. “I'm so excited for kids to have such an incredible, healthy option for them to choose while they're at school,"
The policy change addresses a gap that has existed in school nutrition programs for more than three decades. Federal dietary guidelines have classified whole milk as unhealthy since 1990, leading to its removal from most school meal programs across the country.
For Wisconsin farmers, the legislation opens a significant new market for their products.
"This is just a huge win for dairy. The more that we can see, people continue to drive demand for dairy and make sure that we have outlets for our milk and places for people to consume that nutritious product, that's a win across the board," Schultz said.
The new law also expands options for students with dietary restrictions. Schultz noted that the change benefits students who may be lactose intolerant or have lactose sensitivity, providing them with additional choices in school meal programs.
"It's really giving all kids a choice, and it's giving kids that are maybe lactose intolerant, or have a sensitivity to lactose. They're getting more options too," she said.
Wisconsin's dairy industry has long been central to the state's agricultural economy and cultural identity. The state produces more than 3 billion gallons of milk annually and ranks among the top dairy-producing states in the nation.
Schultz emphasized the importance of supporting local dairy production, encouraging consumers to look for Wisconsin-made products when shopping.
"When you go to the store, not only are you looking for milk, but also looking at cheeses and looking for those proudly Wisconsin symbols on it. I think you know that your milk and cheese and other dairy products, whether that's a yogurt or a butter, is coming from the family farms here in Wisconsin. It's important to make sure we continue to support local but support dairy across the board," she said.
The Trump administration's broader dietary recommendations include encouraging Americans to consume more milk and cheese products, a policy shift that particularly benefits dairy-heavy states like Wisconsin.
For farming families like the Schultz family, the legislation represents both economic opportunity and personal satisfaction, knowing that students will have access to what they consider a nutritious option that has been missing from school cafeterias for decades.
"When we look at what makes Wisconsin so unique, it's not just the incredible family farms, but it's also all of those farms in those communities and those businesses that support it as well," Schultz said.
Yes, farms (dairy & row crops) are still subsidized, but you need to apply for them; they’re not just handed out.
President Trump just pumped another $12 Billion into the farm subsidies, though some are complaining it’s not enough to cover losses from previous administration screw-ups. Also, this money is a bridge to tide them over until the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ kicks in for farmers in October, 2026.
The amounts given out don’t seem too outrageous to me. Farming ain’t cheap!
https://farm.ewg.org/top_recips.php?fips=55000&progcode=total&yr=2024®ionname=Wisconsin
More illiterate journalists and lazy editors.
“The skim milk isn’t what her palette likes.”
The word is palate. It refers to the roof of the mouth, one’s sense of taste, or an intellectual preference.
A palette is what Bob Ross used to paint happy little trees.
My father would talk about the rations also.
He was 9 at the end of the war and when the bombings became ever present he was sent along with his brother to a relative’s farm in the Black Forest where they had access to fresh milk, meat and vegetables, a lot more than he had when he was in the city.
“I agree...not morons. I’d say grintches...idiots...Karens...or nitwits.”
LOL, but think about it. The Leftists managed to ban a PERFECTLY SAFE food for 35 years. Our side cannot even manage to join the rest of the world and require Voter ID.
Google “FMMO” to learn how milk pricing is done today
I can’t say the fat in it has made me any smarter, lol.
Full disclosure: City fella here, but I still understand where food comes from.
Only thing is, the majority of milk produced in Wisconsin goes to cheese making. To the tune of 90%. But it’s still a good thing.
Got milk!
Great news!
L
I can’t tell you the obscene amount of milk that got tossed every single week when I worked in a public school. Kids wouldn’t touch either low fat or skim milk. I was glad when chocolate milk was allowed again after being banned my Michelle Obama - at least the kids were getting some milk.
These are kids that otherwise only drink Gatorade, Red Bull or sodas.
Visiting doctors that came to the school told us that they are seeing more broken bones than ever b/c kids are no longer drinking milk.
I still have the small vintage bail jar that I carried to school with raw milk in the ‘40’s...took our lunch from home but our mother packed milk in our lunch boxes - sometimes it did leak...I remember begging my mother for $00.05 so I could buy “pink” milk from the cafeteria that the other kids were drinking...must have been flavored with strawberries. My mother gave me the $00.05....
I have two of the bail jars and they have had sea shells in them for years...As an adult, I always bought raw milk unless I lived where it wasn’t sold....
Back in the 1960s when I was in elementary school here in Canada, we were given milk every day at school. It was a choice between chocolate and white whole milk and the milk had vitamin ‘D’ added.
Children need milk to make their bones healthy, and the vitamin ‘D’ to make up for the lack of sunshine in the winter months.
I understand that it could help as you get older to avoid cognitive decline.
I think the biggest tool in helping to avoid cognitive decline, however, is this web site and all of the great people on it, yourself included.👍👍
I need all the help I can get on these cold winter days….
Wow, I haven’t seen that in forever.
Exactly.
You are close .... it was Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Today, the pricing is still ...... complicated.
Your last link is to EWG total subsidies per individual Wisconsin farms for the year 2024. It starts at nearly $400,000.00 for the top recipient. That does sound outrageous to many.
We need to begin making distinctions between smart and wise.
I only drink Fairlife Milk. It’s ultra purified and tastes much better and lasts much longer.
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