The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is pleased to announce the On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant Awards.
Projects from this grant will streamline milk handling and pick up for both farmers and milk haulers; make milk storage and handling more efficient; improve on-farm food safety, and enhance milk quality. These projects include installing bulk tanks, high-speed milk pumps, and cleaning and sanitation systems.
In this competitive round, 57 dairies applied for funding, with a total ask of $2,260,833. Ultimately, 38 dairy businesses from across 8 states were selected for awards. Individual award amounts will range from $15,000 to $50,000 with a total of $1,486,046 in overall funding.
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center was established in the 2018 Farm Bill and is funded through the USDA-AMS. The first extension of the 2018 Farm Bill ensured NE-DBIC funding for specific grants through 2027. Until a new Farm Bill is authorized, and depending on funding levels, this particular grant will not be offered again.
The following businesses have been selected for awards:
- Roaring Brook Farm, Connecticut – $50,000 to purchase and install a 2700-gallon bulk tank and energy star cooling system for their milkhouse.
- University of Connecticut, Connecticut – $50,000 to purchase and install a 2000-gallon bulk tank.
- Christopher F Lewis, Maine – $40,000 to purchase and install a 2000-gallon bulk tank.
- Seal Cove Farm, Maine – $15,000 to purchase and install a 285-gallon bulk storage tank and a new chart recorder for their 125-goat dairy.
- Triple D Acres, Maine – $34,649 to update their tank washer, vacuum pump, and milk pre-cooler.
- My Lady’s Manor Farm, Maryland – $50,000 to purchase and install an 8000-gallon bulk tank.
- Shafdon Farms, Maryland – $50,000 to double their milk storage capacity with the purchase and installation of an 8000-gallon bulk tank.
- Barstow’s Longview Farm, Massachusetts – $32,897 to purchase and install a new compact chiller and plate heat exchanger within their existing milk handling system.
- Fletcher Farm, Massachusetts – $15,000 to replace and upgrade their current milk handling equipment with a new, larger receiver jar, new sinks, clean-In-place cabinets, new pumps, and a new pulsator.
- Blue Mt. Dairy, New Hampshire – $32,764 to install a Fre-Heater and new cooling compressors.
- LeClair Acres Farm, New Hampshire – $42,826 to install a new plate cooler, condensing units, and a fully computerized chart recorder.
- Argus Acres, New York – $37,323 to install a new plate cooler and water treatment system.
- Fullerton Dairy, New York – $50,000 to purchase and install a variable speed chiller system for cooling their bulk storage tanks.
- Sheland Farms, New York – $50,000 to purchase and install a load-out system to automate the transfer of milk from a storage tower to tanker trucks.
- Spruce Haven Farm, New York – $50,000 to replace two 10,000-gallon bulk tanks with a 4-bay direct load system.
- Breezy Farms, Pennsylvania – $30,485 to purchase and install a 4000-gallon bulk storage tank and variable speed milk pump.
- Campbell Run Farms, Pennsylvania – $21,500 to purchase and install a new 1,500-gallon bulk storage tank.
- Cozy Valley Farm, Pennsylvania – $50,000 to purchase two condenser units, a plate cooler, and vacuum pump.
- Good Breeze Farm, Pennsylvania – $50,000 to purchase and install a 2700-gallon bulk storage tank.
- Four Seasons Farm, Pennsylvania – $26,040 to purchase and install a new 2000-gallon bulk tank and 75 feet of milk transfer pipeline.
- Joseph E. Blank, Jr., Pennsylvania – $50,000 to purchase a 1500-gallon bulk storage tank, condenser, and plate cooler.
- Lost Hollow Farm, Pennsylvania – $37,401 to upgrade their milk pipeline and purchase a new receiver group, variable speed pumps, and clean-in-place system.
- Neenan Farms, Pennsylvania – $22,329 to upgrade its milk handling infrastructure with a new receiver, compressor, plate cooler, Fre-Heater, and water heater.
- Wade Benedict Farm, Pennsylvania – $50,000 to purchase and install a 6000-gallon bulk storage tank.
- Ayers Brook Goat Dairy, Vermont – $15,000 to replace its existing hot water heater and tank with a new 120-gallon hot water supply system for cleaning and sanitation of storage and handling equipment.
- Ballard Acres, Vermont – $50,000 to purchase and install a 6700-gallon bulk storage tank, new air-cooled condensing units, and a plate heat exchanger.
- Daona Farm, Vermont – $50,000 to purchase install a high-speed milk pump for their 3 bulk tanks.
- Deer Flats Farm, Vermont – $50,000 to install a 5000-gallon bulk tank.
- Doton Farm, Vermont – $50,000 to replace its bulk storage tank with a new tank, condenser and compressors, Fre-Heater, and wash system.
- Fairmont Farm, Vermont – $50,000 to install a piper system.
- Farmer Hodge’s, Vermont – $50,000 to upgrade their bulk tank and pipeline washing systems with new specialized equipment.
- Fern River Farm, Vermont – $15,035 to purchase and install a bulk tank, temperature chart recorder, and specialized cleaning equipment for their sheep milk.
- Fort Waite Farm, Vermont – $50,000 to purchase and install a 4000-gallon bulk tank with compressor units.
- Keewaydin Farm, Vermont – $50,000 to purchase and install a 1500-gallon bulk tank.
- Maple Cedar View Farm, Vermont – $31,153 to complete their transition from a pipeline sytem to a parlor with the installation of a plate cooler, parlor pipeline and pulsators.
- Osgood’s Organic Farm, Vermont – $17,382 to install a new washing system and bulk tank compressor.
- Shadagee Farm, Vermont – $50,000 to purchase and install a 3000-gallon bulk tank.
- Woodnotch Farms, Vermont –$17,709 to install a new plate cooler and bottom loading system to their bulk tank.
