Dairy Excellence Grant Funding Now Open

Are you looking to make an improvement to boost efficiency on your dairy operation? Whether you want to install a fan or sprinkler system in your freestall barn, upgrade your feed mixer in your feeding system, replace your milker units with a more efficient system, or invest in another type of improvement project that enhances cow comfort, consider applying for a Dairy Excellence Grant. The Center for Dairy Excellence leverages funds provided through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to provide Dairy Excellence Grants to support improvement projects on the farm. If you are approved for the grant, you will receive a 50 percent match, up to a maximum matching level of $5,000. 

Application Window: Farms can apply online or via a printed application from September 1 – September 30, 2022. This is a very competitive grant program for Pennsylvania dairy farms only, and limited grants are available. Recipients will receive committee approval before grant awards will be made.

Keep reading to learn more about the grant opportunity, how to apply, and hear from other dairy producers have used the grants to benefit their dairy operations.

Learn More About the Grants

Grant Program Details

About the Grant:
The Dairy Excellence Grants will help support improvement projects on Pennsylvania dairy farms. Projects can include anything related to improving dairy farm efficiency, cow comfort, milking facilities, housing facilities, or feeding systems. The project should focus on improving milk production per cow and/or enhancing overall farm profitability and efficiency.

Grant Amount:
The grants offer up to a 50 percent, or up to a maximum matching level of $5,000, to dairy farms approved into the program.

Ideas of Improvement Projects: 

• Fans, sprinklers or misters in free stall or tie stall barn
• Curtains or other ventilation improvements
• Mattresses or construction to move to deep bedded sand stalls
• Variable speed pulsation
• Cow brush or foot bath installation
• View examples of projects from past grant recipients.

Eligibility:
This grant is for Pennsylvania dairy farms only.

Dairy farm businesses or individuals receiving the Dairy Excellence Grant during the spring and fall rounds of the 2021-22 fiscal year are not eligible to receive a Dairy Excellence grant in this round. Those who applied for a Dairy Excellence Grant in the 2021-2022 fiscal year but were not accepted into the program are eligible to apply again. Those who received a Dairy Excellence Grant in the spring of 2021 are eligible to apply again during this round.

Application Requirements:
As part of the application, you will be required to:

• Be compliant with the National FARM Program or a similar program
• Have a Conservation and Nutrient Management Plan in place
• List two consultants/advisors who work with your farm (ex. nutritionist, accountant, veterinarian, etc.)
• Explain how the improvement will help your overall operation and aid in milk production per cow, efficiency and/or cow comfort
• Submit a $100 application fee. It will be reimbursed if your application is not accepted.

How to Apply: 
Click here to apply online or download a printed application.

Application Deadline: 
You have from September 1-30, 2022 to submit your application. Winning grant award recipients will be notified by October 20, 2022 with expenses/invoices due by February 28, 2023. Application fees will be refunded to those who are not awarded grants.

Questions:
If you have questions, contact Melissa Anderson at 717-636-0779 or manderson@centerfordairyexcellence.org.

Apply for a Grant