Center for Dairy Excellence Amplifies Impacts through Technical Assistance Grant
How 16 dairy farms increased sales, added new market outlets, and improved their lifestyle satisfaction.
Technical Assistance
Dairy Farmer Cohorts: A New Approach to Technical Assistance
Across the Northeast, dozens of dairy farmers are improving their production strategies and businesses through Dairy Farm Cohorts,
an innovative approach to technical assistance funded by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC). To date, there have been five rounds of cohort-based technical assistance contracts. Here’s a look at some of the cohorts:
Grantee Spotlight: Healthy Roots Collaborative
Funded by the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), this grant coordinates technical assistance to benefit multiple dairy producers and with the goal of increasing consumption, sales, and diverse markets for regionally produced dairy products.
Grantee Spotlight: Local Goods Gathered Helps Maine Cheesemakers Sell Throughout New England
Now, thanks to a Dairy Business Viability & Technical Assistance Grant from the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, Maine cheesemakers are beginning to find buyers across New England and rebound from the loss of sales due to pandemic closures of restaurants and the small scale of in-state retailers.
5 New Dairy Farmer Cohort Technical Assistance Contracts Underway
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is pleased to announce awards for 5 additional farmer cohort projects throughout the Northeast region, joining 3 others already underway. These service providers provide targeted technical assistance to farms interested in transitioning to grass-based production models, enhancing the production of home-grown forages, and/or utilizing alternative farm management strategies not typically found in the United States dairy sector.
Creating a Culture of Farm Safety
The dairy farmers who have the longest careers in agriculture are those who have spent some time thinking about and prioritizing farm safety. Large dairy cows, heavy machinery, repetitive motion, and farm chemicals are just a few of the daily encounters that farmers and farmworkers must consider. And while some other industries have seen injury rates decline over time, the rate of farm accidents has remained stubbornly high.
Dairy Business Viability & Technical Assistance Grants Awarded
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is pleased to announce the award of Dairy Business Viability & Technical Assistance Grants to eight businesses and organizations in the Northeast. This grant program supports coordinated technical assistance projects that enhance dairy farmer and processor business operations and strengthen market opportunities.
Most Recent Funding Opportunities Available through NE-DBIC
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy joined the Vermont Agency of Agriculture in announcing the latest rounds of funding opportunities available through the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center. Grants and contracts addressing areas of grazing and forage, food safety, and technical assistance are currently open for application.
Transition to Grazing: Farmers Thinking Outside the Box
In 2019, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets was selected to lead one of three national USDA Dairy Business Innovation Centers. A total of $6.59 million was awarded to the Agency to fund a variety of projects in several priority areas. One identified area included assistance for farmers who would like to develop grazing as a production strategy.