A wide range of grants and contracts, from implementing on-farm grazing practices, to food safety, to business technical assistance, are available at levels of up to $150,000 each.
Leahy worked to establish the DBIC, as the most senior member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee and has seen to its annual funding in his role of Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and supported the location of this regional program at VAAFM in Vermont.
Farmers and producers from across New England, as well as in Delaware, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania are eligible to apply.
See below for information about each of the upcoming grant opportunities.
Dairy Business Viability & Technical Assistance Grant(link is external)
This grant will fund dairy processors, producer associations, supply chain businesses, and technical assistance providers in order to enhance dairy farmer and processor business operations and strengthen market opportunities. Projects funded through this program will coordinate technical assistance to benefit multiple dairy producers and processors with the goal of increasing consumption, sales, jobs, and diverse markets for regionally produced dairy products. Technical assistance services could include enhancing business plans, facility operations, marketing, distribution, processing, and product offerings.
Grants available of $10,000 – $100,000.
Deadline to apply: December 7, 2021
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic/activities/dairy-business-viability-technical-assistance-grant(link is external)
Dairy Food Safety & Certification Grant(link is external)
This grant will provide dairy farmers, processors, and/or producer associations with funds needed to take actionable steps to improve the safety of dairy products. Projects funded through this program will support increased production safety standards with the goal of accessing new markets. Projects that increase marketability of dairy products will be prioritized. Activities covered by this grant include accessing technical assistance, audits, food safety plan development, training, testing fees, and certain infrastructure upgrades.
Grants available of $10,000 – $40,000.
Deadline to apply: February 3, 2022
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic/activities/dairy-food-safety-certification-grant(link is external)
Contract Opportunity: Grazing Transition, Homegrown Forage Enhancement, & Alternative Farm Management Cohort Technical Assistance(link is external)
Service providers across the Northeast are invited to submit proposals for contracts to offer localized cohort-based technical assistance for dairy farmers considering transitioning their farm to a grass-based production model, improving forage management, or other innovative on-farm practices.
Contracts available up to $150,000.
Question and comment deadline: October 29, 2021
Deadline to submit proposals: November 29, 2021
https://agriculture.vermont.gov/transition-grazing-cohort-ta-contract
