Pennsylvania Dairy Decisions Consultant Grants

Are you wondering how to address multiple concerns for your dairy operation, but aren’t ready to work in a “team” setting quite yet? If this is your situation, the Dairy Decisions Consultants (DDC) Grant program may be a good fit for your farm. This program provides dairy farm families with one-on-one professional consulting resources to help make decisions that will shape the future of your farm.

A DDC will typically work with you to do a “whole farm” review of your dairy operation and provide recommendations for moving forward in one of several key areas of business, including: dairy farm viability, business strategy, transition planning, marketing & labeling, value-added, employee management, and animal welfare. Many farms begin with a DDC and then move into working with several trusted advisors in a more formal “team” setting.

Consultants can work with farms in one of seven strategic areas:

• Employee Management & Communication

• Business Planning & Structure

• Product Marketing & Labeling

• Direct Marketing

• Animal Welfare

• Financial Management

• Pre-Farm Transition

• Farms that have 35 or more lactating cows or dairy heifer raising operations with more than 100 dairy heifers are eligible to apply.

• Farms are eligible to receive the DDC Grant once every three years.

Once accepted into the DDC program, farms can receive up to $5,000 in funds to work with a Dairy Decisions Consultant. Program support is made possible through Ag Excellence funding provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the PA Dairymen’s Association.

The consultant will send the bill and summary of work provided with responses of the farms three goals for the consultation being met to the Center and will be paid directly by the Center for Dairy Excellence. If the consultant’s bill is over the allotted DDC funds, the farmer will be responsible to pay the remaining balance. The center will pay the consultant up to $5,000.00. Funding should be used by June 30, 2027.

There is a $100 application fee for this grant.

All funding is subject to release of the current fiscal year funds.

Grants are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

If a farm already has a consultant in mind they would like to work with, that person can be named within the application for approval by the Center.

Completed applications include a $100 application fee. After completing this form, you can submit the application fee via credit card or mail a $100 check to: Center for Dairy Excellence | Attn: Melissa Anderson | 1140 Mountain View Road, Shermans Dale, PA 17090

You will be notified of acceptance in the program upon receipt of this application and application fee.

• DDC Program FAQs (2026-27)

• List of Approved Dairy Decisions Consultants

• DDC Success Stories