Posted Friday, July 6, 2012 --- 6:30 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The state is giving financial assistance to several dozen farmers to help boost Wisconsin's milk production by the end of the decade.

Forty-one dairy farmers around the state are receiving grants totaling $200,000. The money is intended to help the state produce 30 billion pounds of milk each year by 2020.

Gov. Scott Walker announced the so-called Grow Wisconsin Dairy 30-by-20 program in March.

Mike Powers is with the state's agriculture department. He says most of the money will be used to help pay for consultants. He says some will look at business planning and herd health, while others might look at improving milk quality or upgrading facilities.

A Wisconsin Public Radio report (http://bit.ly/OaXHRT ) says the state will be accepting a second round of applications later this year.

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Information from: Wisconsin Public Radio, http://www.wpr.org

Copyright 2012. The Associated Press.