Who Can Apply
- Dairy farmers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont (applicants must be associated with the production of cow’s milk)
- Retired dairy farmers or agriculture advocates, in partnership with an active dairy producer
- Agriculture organizations (FFA, Farm Bureau, 4-H, etc.) within our five state region
What We Prioritize for Funding
Events and programs that engage with youth (5-24 years old) or millennial parents (25-40 years old)
We have identified several target audiences to focus on when building trust in dairy, including youth and millennial consumers. Youth are future consumers and building trust with this target audience will lead us into the future. Millennial consumers are making purchasing decisions for their family. Overall, we focus on events and program that connect farmers with consumers in their community.
These are competitive grants. Decisions on grant awards will be made by a committee of New England Dairy staff. Applications will be evaluated based on information provided in the application and alignment with identified eligibility requirements (view our evaluation rubric). There is no guarantee that full funding will be awarded.
Funding Details
New England Dairy has established guidelines for funding in addition to the requirements of the dairy promotion and research order issued by USDA.
- Grants can be used to purchase dairy products for sampling, but must include a dairy education component. Dairy must be purchased from a source (e.g., a grocery store) other than your farm. Grant dollars cannot be used to purchase your own product. Grants can be used for non-dairy food purchases (up to $500), but must be in connection with an on-farm or sampling event (example: lunch for an open farm day or add-ons for our Milk Bar in a Box)
- Grants can be used for liability insurance coverage (up to $250) for on-farm and community events, like sampling milk at your local fair.
- Grants cannot be used for buildings and/or purchasing capital equipment other than equipment for milk dispensing and distribution (bulk milk dispensers, etc.)
- Grants cannot be used for staff time for farm employees or outside vendors.
- Grants cannot be used for events that have already occurred.
- Grants will not be awarded to producers who exclusively sell raw milk.
Please note: $2,400 in funding annually is available per farm. If your farm applies for a grant and an individual applies to host an event at your farm, both count toward the $2,400 allowance.
Funding for this project is paid for by New England Dairy and the Connecticut Milk Promotion Board.
Grant Timeline
Fall 2024 Grant Deadline: August 30, 2024
Funding Decisions: Applicants will be notified by email after the application deadline of approval or denial, as well as the total funding amount. Award notifications for the Fall 2024 grant round will be sent in mid-September.
Funding: Approved applicants will receive funding approximately 45 days after the application deadline.
Grant reporting: Projects must be completed by December 31, 2024. Grant recipients are required to submit a grant report by January 3, 2025, to remain eligible in the next calendar year. The report will include a brief description of your project, its impact, and photos. New England Dairy reserves the right to share photos and a summary of your project on our website and social media.
Project Ideas
Find inspiration for potential in-person or virtual events and programs:
- Events focused on farming: Open farm day, dairy crawls, environmental open house, cheese and wine tasting featuring a farmer, interactive exhibits at a fair or food festival.
- Milk sampling or Milk Bar in a Box at a community event: Must be paired with dairy education. New England Dairy has created a Milk Bar in a Box to support milk sampling. Dairy promotion grants can be used to purchase dairy products (but dairy donations are preferred) and other supplies needed for sampling. Contact our farmer relations team to learn more about what supplies are covered through the grant.
- School activities: Dairy-themed ag literacy kits, farm tours for schools
- Social media campaigns: Video series with targeted social media advertisements focusing on cow care, sustainability, health, and other topics
Insurance Details
New England Dairy does not provide liability coverage for programs or events that receive a dairy promotion grant. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact your insurance agent for the appropriate type and level of liability insurance coverage.
HPAI Update
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is circulating in dairy cattle across the country. While there are no confirmed cases of HPAI in New England, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have recommended limiting the amount of traffic on farms. If you are welcoming visitors to your farm, please follow best practices for biosecurity, including shoe covers, hand washing or sanitization stations, limiting access in barns, and avoiding milking parlors.
