Be Part of the Center’s Dairy Innovation Grant Program to Invest in New Technology on Your Dairy

Are you looking to invest in new technology on your dairy operation? The Center for Dairy Excellence is now accepting pre-applications for Dairy Innovation Grants. The PA Department of Agriculture introduced the PA Ag Innovation Fund to support investments that embrace technology to improve efficiency and data analytics on dairy operations; enhance production; and increase energy efficiency on the farm or in ag processing.

How does it work? 

The Center for Dairy Excellence would qualify for a Regional Impact Grant through the PA Ag Innovation Fund and plans to pursue grant funding to award Dairy Innovation Grants to up to 20 dairy farm operations that are wanting to invest in technology to enhance their operation. If accepted, it would allow the Center to award up to $25,000 in matching funds to those farms. Farms that are successful in the Center’s pre-application process would be included with the Center’s application as a Regional Impact Project to the PA Ag Innovation Fund.

Disclaimer: Due to the nature of this process, there will not be any funding awarded unless the Center’s application is approved. Pre-applications are being accepted through November 1 to be included with our proposal to the PA Ag Innovation Fund. However, even if the farm is selected to be submitted with our application, any funds awarded will be dependent upon the Center for Dairy Excellence’s application being awarded funding from the Ag Innovation Fund.

What types of projects are applicable?

Projects could involve technology within the milking parlor, feeding system, activity monitoring, ventilation, and cow cooling aspects of the operation. Potential projects cannot be started prior to January 1, 2025 and have up to two years to be completed. Projects could include:

• Technology investments to automate ventilation and cooling systems in housing areas (temperature-controlled fans, misters, and curtains)
• Activity monitoring system for improved herd health and reproduction
• Automation in feeding system to monitor ration ingredients, intakes, and/or inventories
• Automation in milking parlor/system to capture data analytics and improve efficiency

What is the timeline?

This is a competitive grant program, and dairy producers must apply by November 1 to give the Center enough time to submit its application to the Pennsylvania Dairy Innovation Fund. Successful farms would be notified of their acceptance into the pre-application period in November but would not know whether the funding is awarded until January 2025 upon announcement of the Pennsylvania Ag Innovation Grant Awardees.

Click here to submit your pre-application by November 1.