Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for safe working conditions.

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.

Ben Eldredge

Grants Coordinator

The Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant will fund projects that help dairy farmers strengthen their operations for long-term success. Eligible&#x2004;projects may modernize outdated systems or introduce innovative solutions to improve farm viability, increase animal health and comfort, improve milk quality or value, improve worker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.



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 Eligible projects may modernize outdated systems or introduce innovative solutions to improve farm viability, increase animal health and comfort, improve milk quality or value, improve worker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.

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

- FY2027 Farm Improvement Pre-Application RFA

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

HVAC

Irrigation

Lighting

Repairs

Storage

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.

Apply with the following steps:
- Complete Application Form. (Below)
- Provide written consent of building/business owner, if not the applicant.
- Sign/date the application’s Letter of Agreement.
- Provide detailed estimates of the project costs (do not have to be prepared by a professional).
- Submit by email, mail, or hand delivery to the appropriate address below:
Email: 
jmfsf@bassett.org

Regular mail:
John May Farm Safety Fund 
Attn: JMFSF Team 
One Atwell Road
Cooperstown, NY 13326 

Hand delivery:
NYCAMH
6160 State Highway 28
Fly Creek, NY 13337
Attn: JMSF Team

JMFSF Team

The John May Farm Safety Fund has been established for New York farmers needing financial help to improve work-related safety on their farms.



Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for receiving funds under this program: 
- Resident of New York
- Full or part-time active farmers
- Operate a dairy operation OR
- For non-dairy operations, grossing an annual farm income of $10,000-$999,999

- Application and Instructions: https://www.nycamh.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/jmfsfapplicationpacket.pdf

- Applications to the program may be submitted at any time. The number of awards and the award amount will be determined by NYCAMH on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Awards may not exceed 50% of the estimated total cost of the project, with a maximum award amount of $5,000.
- For applicants being considered for an award, a site visit will be conducted by one of NYCAMH’s farm safety staff. As part of the site visit documentation, NYCAMH staff will take photographs, which may also be used in our media and promotion. During the pre-project visit, farm safety staff will recommend whether a post-project visit will be necessary or the review of before-and-after photographs will be sufficient to determine completion. However, NYCAMH reserves the right to schedule a post-project visit if photos are deemed insufficient.
- Applicants will not be reimbursed for any project expenses incurred before the project is approved by NYCAMH.
- Funds will be awarded with the stipulation that the project must be completed within one year ofaward notification, unless an extension has been requested and approved. Proof of completion must be submitted within one year after signing the funding agreement.
- After project completion, the award recipient is required to (a) contact a NYCAMH farm safety staff member to schedule a post-project site visit OR, if deemed appropriate, submit photographs of the completed work AND (b) submit an evaluation and expenditure summary form, along with copies of paid receipts. After reviewing the submitted documentation, NYCAMH will send the full award to the recipient.
- NYCAMH staff will take photographs to document pre- and post-site visits and for promotion purposes. Written and verbal testimonials may also be used for promotional purposes.

MDA prioritizes applications received by May 1 of each fiscal year. Read the full Dairy Business Planning Grant Program Details (PDF) before applying. Prepare the information needed for the online application, including: farm or business summary; goal of business plan; professional services you'll be using to develop your business plan; quotes (optional); and workplan and timeline. Apply online through the MDA grants system. If you're a new user, you will need to create an account; once logged in, select "Dairy Business Planning Grant." An MDA review committee will look over your project and decide if it should be funded.

Kami Schoenfeld

Ag Marketing & Development Division

Grants cover 50 percent of the cost to hire a qualified, independent third party to create a business plan for a dairy operation and/or test for stray voltage. Dairy producers have used these grants to evaluate the feasibility of expanding a dairy, plan environmental upgrades, and create strategies to transfer the operation to a family member or other new owner.



Existing and beginning Minnesota dairy farmers are eligible for this grant.

The cost of services that are not directly related to the improvement and continuance of the dairy farm are ineligible for this grant, such as:
- Nutrition consulting
- Retirement and investment planning
- Tax planning and tax return preparation
- Intergenerational transfer planning that discontinues the dairy enterprise
- Loan origination or documentation fees
- Chattel real estate appraisal
- Crop consulting
- Nutrient management planning – except as required in the business plan
- Veterinary/herd health consulting
- The cost to complete a dairy business planning grant application

Dairy

Butter

Cheese

Milk

Yogurt

Cow Milk

Goat Milk

- Dairy Business Planning Grant Application (PDF)
- Livestock Expansion Loan Program
- Livestock Equipment Loan Program

Legal & Finance

The grant pays 50 percent of the cost to develop a business plan, up to $5,000. Applicant must pay the other 50 percent.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/AMSPolicyonConsiderationofLateNonresponsiveApplications.pdf

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service

The USDA Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP) supports agricultural employers in implementing robust labor standards to promote a safe, healthy work environment for both U.S. workers and workers hired under the seasonal H-2A visa program. The program is funded by the Farm Service Agency and will be administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service and the Farm Production and Conservation Business Center.



- Domestic agricultural employers.
- Eligible employer types are fixed-site employers, joint-employers, agricultural associations, and H-2A labor contractors.
- Applicants must anticipate meeting all Department of Labor and Department of Homeland Security regulatory requirements for the H-2A program.
- Applicants must demonstrate an effort to recruit U.S.-based workers and hire all willing, able, and qualified U.S. workers.
- Applicants must commit to, and show capacity to fulfill, all FLSP Baseline Requirements.
- Applicants must choose to hire workers through the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Employment of Foreign Workers Program.

Training

The FLSP General Terms and Conditions offers an illustrative list of broad categories of expenses that USDA deems allowable and those that are unallowable under the FLSP grant program. For example, this award can be used for costs related to the hiring and onboarding of U.S. and H-2A workers and costs related to the operations related to compliance with the program commitments. All funds are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the FLSP General Terms and Conditions.

List of Agricultural Funding for Safe Working Conditions