The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant program, which will provide grants for dairy farmers to access funds that support the purchase of equipment and other related costs that will improve milk storage, handling, and energy efficiencies.
Donor Name: Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC)
State: Selected States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/05/2024
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The NE-DBIC’s On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling grant program helps dairy farmers improve milk storage and handling by upgrading equipment and replacing outdated or inadequate systems to move and store milk more efficiently, protect milk quality, and plan for the future while reducing costs. This grant provides farmers with the opportunity to purchase new, energy efficient bulk tanks, milk cooling equipment, direct load systems, and other pre-approved equipment to ensure that they are ready and able to meet processor hauling and quality demands.
Projects funded by this grant will: streamline milk handling and pick up for both farmers and milk haulers; make milk storage and handling more efficient; improve on-farm food safety, and/or enhance milk quality. Applications that show a proactive approach to planning for future storage and handling needs and that demonstrate a clear, timely need for equipment purchases will be more competitive.
Funds will be available to farms at all scales that can demonstrate a need to increase capacity and/or improve handling capabilities, with priority given to applicants who can show that they have planned for resilience to changing market conditions, uncertain growing conditions, and/or supply chain interruptions, therefore increasing business viability.
Funding Priorities
Projects should address at least two (2) of the following funding priority areas:
- Project results in cost savings to the farm
- Project increases energy efficiencies on farm
- Project increases farm’s resilience to changing market conditions, uncertain environmental conditions, and/or supply chain interruptions.
Funding Information
Grants will range from $15,000- $50,000 with a 25% match commitment. Match waivers are also available. FSA low-interest loans and other grants are encouraged to supplement the project. Total funds available: $1,500,000.
Grant Period
Grant periods will range from 6 – 12 months, depending on the project.
Eligible Projects
Project activities under this grant will ensure that dairy farms are ready and able to meet processor hauling and milk quality demands by improving milk storage and handling.
Geographical Areas
Grants are available to applicants in all 11 Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants eligible for these funds are dairy farmers (producers) that:
- are headquartered or based in the Northeast; and
- produce milk within the Northeast; and
- are licensed dairy operations in compliance with all required state and/federal standards.
For more information, visit NE-DBIC.
