Pennsylvania Dairy Discussion Group Grants

To encourage benchmarking and sharing BMPs among dairy producers, the Center is offering grants to cover costs associated with discussion and benchmarking groups functioning within Pennsylvania. The grants can cover the cost of food and meeting expenses, as well as facilitator costs, to discount any expenses incurred by the producers who participate.

• They are to support a small group – 8 to 12 – of dairy producers.

• Discussion and benchmarking groups functioning within Pennsylvania.

Eligible costs are reimbursed by the Center, up to $2,000 per fiscal year. The grants are made available on a first-come, first-serve basis, with groups required to submit meeting summaries to validate expenses.

• The $2,000 grant should be used to cover costs associated with the facilitator’s time and with the cost of the meetings and/or associated meals. Expenses are reimbursed upon receipt.

• The facilitator must provide a short summary within 30 days of the meeting to the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence to receive compensation. The summary should include the date, the host farm, the names of those who attended, and the topic(s) discussed.

• The facilitator must submit an invoice and appropriate receipts within 30 days of the meeting. Depending on how often the group meets, and how extensively the facilitator prepares, members of the group may need to provide some funding as well. The final invoice must be received by the Center for Dairy Excellence by May 31st.

Program support is made possible through Ag Excellence funding provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Contact Melissa Anderson to apply.

Facilitators are encouraged to provide details of meeting format along with your application form.

You will be notified of acceptance upon receipt of this application.