- Oct 11, 2024
- 2 min read
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $11.04 million in funding to support dairy businesses and producers under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant programme.
The initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products.
The funding is being awarded to four current DBI Initiatives at California State University, Fresno, the University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets and the University of Wisconsin.
The initiatives will use the funding to provide valuable technical assistance and subaward funds to dairy farmers and businesses across their regions, supporting them with business plan development, marketing and branding, as well as increasing access to innovative production and processing techniques to support the development of value-added products.
This year’s DBI projects include:
🥛 In California, Oregon and Washington, the Pacific Coast Coalition will use $690,000 in new funding to help farmers tap into higher-value uses for milk, such as artisanal cheeses and organic dairy products. The Coalition’s workforce training programme will ensure dairy businesses remain competitive, allowing producers to diversify markets and income.
🥛 In the Southeast, the University of Tennessee will use $3.45 million to support farmers across 12 states, enabling them to integrate innovative practices in dairy innovation, product safety, farm sustainability and workforce development to improve financial outcomes and diversify the dairy supply chain.
🥛 In the Northeast, Vermont’s Dairy Business Innovation Center will use $3.45 million to extend its reach – so far, this initiative has provided $31 million in support for 333 projects such as farm modernisation and energy efficiency improvements, aimed at boosting resilience and efficiency across the region’s dairy sector.
🥛 The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance in Wisconsin will use $3.45 million to continue to empower dairy farmers and processors in the Midwest with grant programmes and technical assistance, focusing on expanding market opportunities and supporting value-added dairy product innovation.
United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said: “[The] USDA is committed to helping America's dairy industry remain competitive as they work hard to provide necessary, nutritious dairy products to communities nationwide. Through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, we aim to help the dairy industry access new and better market, spur innovation and create economic growth."
Vilsack continued: "To date, the initiatives have invested over $64 million into more than 600 projects that are increasing dairy supply chain resiliency, creating new markets and expanding economic growth in rural economies".
