The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is pleased to announce the Goat & Sheep Dairy Development Grant Awards.
This grant funds both Individual Business projects and Sector Enhancement projects.
Individual Business Awards for farmers or processors making necessary improvements to increase business viability, market development, or innovations in production.
Sector Enhancement Awards that engage multiple dairy businesses in activities which improve or expand small ruminant production practices or dairy markets. These strengthen relationships across the goat/sheep dairy supply chain.
With an aim to enhance the growth of individual small ruminant businesses, as well as address gaps in technical assistance, supply chain partnerships, and market access, the program’s overall goal is to support long-term business viability. Funded projects include the purchasing of specialized equipment to expand production and increase energy efficiency, working with marketing specialists to promote products throughout the Northeast, and installing a virtual fencing system.
The following businesses have been selected for awards:
Individual Business Awardees:
Flying Goat Farm of Maine – $41,976 to upgrade its current goat milk creamery system by purchasing and installing a new 500-liter vat pasteurizer, a commercial dishwasher, and an energy efficient mini split heat pump. The completed project will result in more efficient production, new product development, and publicly sharing their upgrades through online channels.
Bending Branch Farm of New Hampshire – $47,128 to equip a licensed creamery facility on the site of their operating goat dairy farm. The creamery will include a vat/batch pasteurizer, draining tables, cheese presses, and an area for mixing flavored fresh cheeses, and will also contain space for potential future expanded processing and other business activities.
Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy of New Hampshire – $50,000 to expand their sheep yogurt production capacity by installing an IMS certifiable yogurt packaging line into its creamery. They will also work with a marketing consultant to promote their products to markets in the Northeast.
Gorgeous Goat Creamery of New Jersey – $35,200 to increase production capacity and improve processing efficiencies at their goat milk dairy and creamery with the purchase and installation of a 60-gallon vat pasteurizer and a walk-in refrigerator.
Anonymous Cheesemaker of Pennsylvania – $40,000 to work with a marketing consultant to develop a series of print and digital marketing materials to support sales of goat and sheep milk cheeses to chefs and wineries.
Danz Ahn Dairy of Vermont – $19,417 to improve farm efficiency and accommodate continued business growth by replacing its milk storage and handling equipment and electrical system. This project will add a bucket milker, a 30-gallon bulk storage tank, and a dump station to the farm’s milkhouse and creamery.
Doe’s Leap of Vermont – $16,848 to collaborate with Agritech Institute for Small Farms, to install a virtual fencing system for dairy goats, enabling a management-intensive rotational grazing system that includes both traditional grassland and silvopasture. They will also share information about their improvements through a video presentation documenting the use of this fencing system and will offer opportunities for a pasture walk to other regional goat dairy business owners.
Hall and Breen Farm of Vermont – $50,000 to complete a transition from cow-to goat-based dairy operations by purchasing and installing a new milking parlor, retrofitting existing barns to accommodate goats, and beginning the sale of goat’s milk to dairy processors within the regional supply chain.
Sector Enhancement Awardee:
Meadowood Farms of New York – $74,617 to increase the volume of fall-produced sheep milk available to a major Northeast processor through nutritional veterinary consulting and guidance, increasing storage capacity for synchronized fall milk production, and improving milk transportation.
Photo: ewes resting in the shade at Blackeyed Susan Sheep Dairy
