By Blake Jackson
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has appointed Kelvin Amon as assistant professor of dairy business and economic development within its School of Agriculture.
Amon role is funded through the Dairy Innovation Hub, a statewide program backed by $7.8 million in annual support from Wisconsin.
The Hub connects research and innovation efforts across UW-Madison, UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls, aiming to keep the state’s $52.8 billion dairy industry competitive while promoting economic, environmental and social sustainability.
Amon began his position in August 2025, joining a network of 17 faculty members working collaboratively across the three campuses to address key challenges in the dairy sector.
At UW-Platteville, he contributes to the agribusiness program and mentors students preparing for the National Agri-Marketing Association student marketing competition.
Amon holds a PhD in food and resource economics from the University of Florida, where he focused on applied microeconomics, particularly farmer decision-making and the economics of pest and disease management.
Amon doctoral research used experimental economic approaches to analyze how U.S. specialty crop producers-including fruit, vegetable and citrus growers-respond to emerging pest and disease control technologies. It also examined whether peer engagement could improve adoption and outcomes in disease management.
These insights translate well to dairy farming, where producers face similar pressures such as rising input costs, disease risks and uncertainty around new technologies.
Amon’s current work centers on building resilient economic strategies for dairy farms, especially for small and mid-sized operations managing narrow profit margins.
“The Dairy Innovation Hub provides an incredible platform for researchers committed to strengthening Wisconsin’s dairy industry,” Amon said.
“I’m excited to contribute through research, teaching, and outreach, and thrilled to be part of UW-Platteville’s School of Agriculture and collaborate with other Hub faculty across the state.”
Photo Credit: university-of-wisconsin-platteville
Categories: Wisconsin, Business, Education