Pennsylvania Dairy Excellence Grant

Are you looking to improve cow comfort, milk production per cow, or efficiency on your dairy? The Center for Dairy Excellence leverages funds provided through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the PA Dairymen’s Association to provide Dairy Excellence Grants to support improvement projects on the farm.

Projects can include anything related to improving dairy farm efficiency, cow comfort, milking facilities, housing facilities, or feeding systems. The project should focus on improving milk production per cow and/or enhancing overall farm profitability and efficiency.

A few ideas of improvements include:

• Fans, sprinklers or misters in free stall or tie stall barn

• Curtains or other ventilation improvements

• Mattresses or construction to move to deep bedded sand stalls

• Variable speed pulsation

• Cow brush or foot bath installation

• This grant is for Pennsylvania dairy farms only.

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

• Be compliant with the National FARM Program or a similar program

• Have a Conservation and Nutrient Management Plan in place

If you are approved for the grant, you will receive a 50 percent match, up to a maximum matching level of $5,000.

A $100 application fee is required but will be reimbursed if your application is not accepted.

• Invoices for each of the expenses sent to the Center for Dairy Excellence must be submitted with a completed CDE expense form before June 30, 2027.

• Matching invoice must accompany expenses to be reimbursed.

• Invoices must be dated between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027.

• No expense reimbursements will be made until a W9 is received.

• Invoices/expenses and expense form to be sent to: Center for Dairy Excellence, Attn: Melissa Anderson, 1140 Mountain View Rd., Shermans Dale, PA 17090.

Application period: The application period will be open from October 1 to November 1, 2026.

Visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org/excellence-grants to apply online or download a printed application to mail back.

As part of the application, you will be required to:

• List two consultants/advisors who work with your farm (ex. nutritionist, accountant, veterinarian, etc.)

• Explain how the improvement will help your overall operation and aid in milk production per cow, efficiency and/or cow comfort

• Optional: You can upload any additional documents, including letters of recommendation, that support your application.

The selection committee will award grants based on the impact the project would have on cow comfort and overall milk production, the detail in which the applicant describes what the project involves and how the project will benefit their operation, and the willingness of the applicant to provide requested information or to seek help in providing requested information.

Notifications: This is a competitive grant, so winning applicants will be notified by November 20, 2026, with expenses/invoices due by June 30, 2027. Those not accepted into the program will have the application fee refunded to them.

• 2026-27 Dairy Excellence Grant Details

• Tips for Applying for Grants

• How past grant recipients used the funds