Apply Online | Center for Dairy Excellence

This is a competitive grant opportunity with a limited window to apply: October 14 through November 1. Submit your pre-application below.

Successful farms will be notified of their acceptance into the pre-application period in November but would not know whether the funding is awarded until January 2025 upon announcement of the Pennsylvania Ag Innovation Grant Awardees.

Important Note | Letter of Support Template: You must submit a letter of support with your application below. Click here to view a template that you can use to help simplify the process of writing your letter of support.

Dairy Innovation Grant Applications (Fall 2024)

*Note: This program would be funded by the PA Department of Agriculture’s, PA Ag Innovation Fund, only if the Center is awarded funds. Farm operations that have 35 or more lactating cows or 70 or more lactating goats are eligible to apply.
Producer's Name*
Farm Name*
Address*
Street Address City State ZIP Code
County*
Email Address*
Phone Number*
How did you hear about this grant?*
Name of milk market or cooperative*
Please provide the following data for the current month:
Total mature cows/goats lactating & dry:*
Number of heifers 12 months or older:*
Number of heifers under 12 months:*
Total pounds of milk shipped in the prior year:*
Butterfat Percentage:
Protein Percentage: (See December's settlement check that you should have received in mid-January)
Operational information (check all that apply):*
- Tie stall
- Parlor
- Robotics
- Organic
- Grazing
How many times are you milking per day?*
- 3 times
- 2 times
- Robotic milkers
If you checked "robotic milkers," what do you average for number of milkings per day?
DHIA Number
RAC Number: (Righthand corner of DHIA Report)
Our farm has a current Manure Management Plan or Nutrient Management Plan:*
- Yes
- No
Our farm has a current Conservation Plan or Ag Erosion and Sediment Control Plan:*
- Yes
- No
Our farm is compliant with National FARM Program or similar program:*
- Yes
- No
Our farm has a Risk Management Plan or uses risk management tools to protect profit margins:*
- Yes
- No
Our farm has a Biosecurity Plan:*
- Yes
- No
Our farm has a formal management or advisory team:*
- Yes
- No
List TWO consultants/advisors with phone number and email address that work with the farm (ex. Nutritionist, Accountant, Veterinarian):*
List the consultant’s name, organization, phone number, email address, and the type of consultant they are.
What is your project? (Describe in detail. Please note, projects must be initiated after January 1, 2025, to be eligible.)*
How would this project improve efficiency and productivity on your farm?*
How does this project fit into your 2-5 year goals for your farm?*
Please include a description of technology improvements you plan to install as part of this project and an estimated cost for each technology below. In the third column, please indicate whether you received a cost estimate directly from the supplier or researched cost estimates through other sources (catalog, websites, etc.) (Click on the + sign on the right to add multiple improvements/estimates.)*
Description of Technology Improvement Estimated Cost of Improvement (Provide per unit if possible) Source of Cost Estimate
Upload Your Letter of Support (Download the template included above)
Max. file size: 100 MB.
Signature/Consent*
I agree to the following requirements.
In exchange for the allocation of funding and support, farms accepted as a Dairy Innovation Grant will be expected to do the following:
– Provide invoices /expenses to the Center for reimbursement.
– Submit invoices for allocated funds to the Center by January 2027.
– Provide a W9 to the Center to receive reimbursement for expenses. Any funding received through this grant will be considered taxable income by the IRS.
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Description of Technology Improvement	Estimated Cost of Improvement (Provide per unit if possible)	Source of Cost Estimate