Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant

The Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant will fund projects that help dairy farmers strengthen their operations for long-term success. Eligible projects may modernize outdated systems or introduce innovative solutions to improve farm viability, increase animal health and comfort, improve milk quality or value, improve worker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.

• Open 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.

• Dairy farmers that are headquartered or based in the Northeast, produce milk within the Northeast, and are licensed dairy operations in compliance with all required state and federal standards.

• Dairy farmers must not be primarily selling raw fluid milk intended for human consumption without processing or pasteurization.

• Producer associations that represent, support, or promote dairy products originating from the Northeast are eligible if the project will primarily benefit dairy farmers in the Northeast, at least two farmer partners are identified and provide letters of commitment at the full application stage, and the association does not receive the majority of their funds from producer check-off dollars.

• Technical assistance providers (e.g., university extension or viability organizations) are eligible if the project will primarily benefit dairy farmers in the Northeast and at least two farmer partners are identified and provide letters of commitment at the full application stage.

• Milk buyers/processors are eligible if the project directly benefits farmers by improving milk production and/or transfer, at least one farmer partner is identified and provides a letter of commitment at the full application stage, and the milk buyer/processor is located in the Northeast.

• Projects that primarily result in processor-owned infrastructure or equipment (e.g., milk transport tanks) are not eligible.

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.

Pre-applications open October 29, 2026 and close December 17, 2026 at 2:00 pm ET. This year the program is moving to a two-stage application process, and you must complete a pre-application to be considered for funding. Review the FY2027 Pre-Application RFA before applying.

If you are invited to submit a full application, you will have approximately 6 weeks to complete your full application in WebGrants. The RFA timeline lists April 2027 for award notifications.

Questions: contact Ben Eldredge, NE-DBIC's Grants Coordinator.

• FY2027 Farm Improvement Pre-Application RFA