Dairy farmers in the Northeast can now apply for funding through the Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant, which is administered by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC). The grant program has $750,000 available to support projects that aim to enhance farm viability, milk quality, worker conditions, economic sustainability, and climate resilience.
Eligible applicants include dairy farmers from all 11 states served by NE-DBIC—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Producer associations and technical assistance providers applying on behalf of groups of farmers are also eligible. Additionally, milk buyers or processors focusing on on-farm milk production or transfer may apply.
Grant awards will range from $15,000 to $100,000. Applicants must provide a 25% match in cash or in-kind contributions. The program prioritizes projects that take a systems-level approach and involve collaboration with experts or technical service providers. Projects limited to simple equipment replacement without broader improvements are not eligible.
Areas of focus for the grant include feed and nutrition management, animal health and comfort, milking systems improvement, labor efficiency enhancements, animal management strategies, engagement of new and young farmers, farm transition planning, cooperative milk production initiatives and other efforts that benefit dairy operations.
Applications are open from October 14 until December 4 at 2 p.m. Full details about the application process can be found at https://nedairyinnovation.com/grants/farm-improvement-modernization/.
The NE-DBIC is hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and funded through USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS). According to NE-DBIC representatives: “The NE-DBIC’s investment and project strategy promotes innovation and resiliency for regional production of dairy products across an 11-state Northeast region.”
For more information about NE-DBIC programs or to access resources for dairy producers in the region visit https://nedairyinnovation.com/.
