$21 Million In Funding Announced For NY Dairy Farmers

Governor Cuomo has announced that over $21 million will be made available to create new economic opportunities for New York’s dairy farmers.

The funding will help dairy farmers to convert farm waste to energy and develop individualized business and environmental plans to reduce operating costs and increase profitability. The funding for these efforts stem from recommendations made at the Yogurt Summit in 2012. Governor Cuomo has pledged a second Yogurt Summit to identify additional economic growth opportunities.

Starting on January 17, funds will be available through NYSERDA to install anaerobic digester technology used to produce electricity and heat from organic wastes. Farms, food processing manufacturers or municipal wastewater sites would be eligible for up to $2 million per project.

Funding for the Dairy Acceleration Program (DAP) will be increased and may include: up to $5,000 per farm to write a business plan or develop a combination of a business and facility growth plan; and up to $4,500 to update an existing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) or $6,000 to develop a new one. To be eligible for DAP, a dairy cattle farm must have complete financial records. Preference will be given to farms with under 300 cows. DAP funding will cover up to 80 percent of a project’s cost.

To apply for DAP, visit the Dairy Acceleration Program.