SJR88,1,43 Whereas, Wisconsin leads the United States in annual total cheese production;
4and

SJR88,1,65 Whereas, dairy plays a critical role in the Wisconsin economy and accounts for
6approximately half of total state agricultural receipts; and

SJR88,1,97 Whereas, United States cheese exports have steadily increased throughout the
8years, reaching a new record of $183 million last year and growing by over 70 percent
9in just the past two years; and

SJR88,1,1310 Whereas, foreign governments, specifically the European Union, are seeking
11to limit competition from U.S. companies, particularly in value-added areas such as
12cheese, by restricting the use of commonly used product terms through the
13registration of improper geographic indications; and

SJR88,2,3

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1Whereas, product names commonly used in Wisconsin that already face bans
2on their usage in certain world markets include Asiago, feta, fontina, Gorgonzola,
3Grana, Gruyère, Muenster, Neufchâtel, and Parmesan; and

SJR88,2,64 Whereas, other product names that are also at risk of being banned include
5Brie, Camembert, Cheddar, Edam, Emmental, Gouda, mozzarella, pecorino, and
6provolone; and

SJR88,2,117 Whereas, as a result, serious concerns exist that the abuse of geographic
8indication applications targeting commonly used cheese names threatens the
9continued expansion of Wisconsin cheese exports and threatens the expansion of new
10markets for the entire $59 billion Wisconsin agriculture industry; now, therefore, be
11it