By Jamie Martin
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) has opened applications for its Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant, giving dairy farmers across the Northeast access to $750,000 in funding. The program supports projects designed to strengthen long-term farm sustainability, improve milk quality, enhance labor conditions, and promote climate resilience.
Farmers, producer groups, and milk processors located in 11 states—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont—are eligible to apply.
Grants will range between $15,000 and $100,000, requiring a 25% match in cash or in-kind contributions. Projects that take a comprehensive systems approach and include collaboration with technical service providers will be prioritized.
Funding may support initiatives in feed and nutrition management, milking systems, animal welfare, labor efficiency, young farmer engagement, cooperative milk production, and other areas that contribute to overall farm improvement. Projects focused solely on equipment replacement are not eligible.
Applications close on December 4, 2025, at 2 p.m., and details are available at nedairyinnovation.com.
Hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, NE-DBIC fosters innovation and resilience across the regional dairy supply chain, ensuring Northeast farmers remain competitive and sustainable for years to come.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-r-j-seymour
Categories: National