The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $12 million in grant funding available to support processing capacity expansion, on-farm improvements and technical assistance services to producers through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI). The funds will be awarded noncompetitively to the DBI Initiatives at California State University Fresno, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. These initiatives are invited to submit proposals for this year’s funding through the Request for Applications (RFA).
USDA Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt made the announcement in Brodhead, Wisconsin, alongside Randy Romanski, secretary of the Wisconsin department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection. Moffitt emphasized the importance of the initiatives and their contributions to the U.S. dairy industry.
“The Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives utilize a unique approach of providing both technical assistance and subawards to small and mid-sized dairy businesses,” said Under Secretary Moffitt. “Through this, the businesses are able to diversify markets and income, develop higher value uses for their milk products, and achieve higher returns.”
Since its inception in 2019, the DBI initiatives have invested over $64 million and awarded over 600 sub-recipients in 40 states, providing valuable support in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products. The initiatives offer technical assistance and sub-grants to dairy farmers and businesses, supporting them in business plan development, marketing, branding and innovative production and processing techniques to develop value-added products.
Dairy farmers and businesses interested in the program must contact the appropriate initiative to be considered for direct technical assistance or a sub-award. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) encourages applications to identify activities that benefit smaller farms and ranches, new and beginning farmers and ranchers, underserved producers, veteran producers, low-income, and minority individuals and underserved communities. AMS also encourages partnerships with minority-serving institutions of higher education.
Application Information
The RFA, information about grant eligibility, and a list of previously funded projects are available on the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives webpage. Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 27, 2024.
USDA promotes climate-resilient landscapes and rural economic systems, including tools to support agriculture, forests, grazing lands, and rural communities. AMS encourages applicants to consider including goals and activities related to reducing and stabilizing greenhouse gases or adapting to climate change in their project’s design and implementation.
For additional information, contact [email protected].
