Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant

The Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant will fund projects that help dairy farmers improve their operations for long-term success. Eligible projects may modernize outdated systems or introduce innovative solutions to improve farm viability, reduce climate impacts, improve milk quality or value, improve worker conditions, and strengthen the farm's ability to respond to challenges. Competitive projects will take a strategic, systems-level approach, involve expert guidance such as farm planners or technical assistance providers, and may benefit individual farms or groups of farms. Projects that only replace old equipment without broader improvements to farm systems are not eligible.

Eligible applicants include dairy farmers, producer associations or technical service providers applying on behalf of groups of farmers, and milk buyers focusing on on-farm milk production or transfer. Grants are available to applicants in all 11 Northeast states served by NE-DBIC: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Applicants must be one or more of the following: headquartered or based in the Northeast; produce milk within the Northeast; are licensed dairy operations in compliance with all required state and/or federal standards; are not primarily selling raw fluid milk for direct human consumption; or producer associations that represent, support, or promote dairy products originating from the Northeast.

Awards will range from $15,000 – $100,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match contribution required. Total funds available: $1,000,000. This year the program will have a two-stage application.

Applications for this grant will open in October (2026). You may refer to the 2025 Farm Improvement & Modernization Request for Applications (RFA), but please note changes may be made to this program for 2026.