Farms.com Home   Ag Industry News

$3.45M USDA grant fosters dairy sector growth

Oct 09, 2024
By Farms.com

Funding local milk for schools

A significant boost for the dairy industry comes as the USDA allocates $3.45 million to the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC). Covering an 11-state region, the grant aims to enhance sustainability and innovation in dairy farming and processing.

 The funding is part of the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, a program designed to revitalize America’s dairy industry by fostering innovation and improving efficiency.

Projects funded under this grant will focus on reducing environmental impact, such as minimizing virgin plastic use in packaging and enhancing milk quality.

The grant will also support efforts to bring local milk into nearby schools, promoting healthier community lifestyles and providing economic opportunities for local farmers.

State agriculture leaders have expressed their gratitude and optimism, noting the grant’s role in helping dairy farms upgrade marketing efforts, improve product quality, and adapt to the changing climate and technological landscape.

With these funds, the NE-DBIC will offer new grants for dairy processing and packaging innovation as well as on-farm milk storage and handling.

These initiatives are designed to help dairy farmers and processors stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market by adopting more efficient, sustainable practices.

This move by the USDA highlights its commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector and ensuring the future viability of dairy production in the Northeast.

The funding not only supports individual farms and businesses but also contributes to the economic stability of the entire region, ensuring a thriving, sustainable dairy industry for future generations.


Trending Video

Dr. Jay Johnson: Bioenergetics of Heat Stress in Sows

Video: Dr. Jay Johnson: Bioenergetics of Heat Stress in Sows

The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Jay Johnson from the University of Missouri explores the bioenergetics of heat stress in gestating sows and how it affects growth and fat deposition. He discusses energy partitioning, thermoregulation, and genetic strategies to improve thermal tolerance without compromising productivity. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Gestating sows under heat stress grow faster than those in thermoneutral conditions, with much of that growth going into backfat."

Meet the guest: Dr. Jay Johnson earned his Ph.D. from Iowa State University and is now an Associate Professor of Animal Welfare and Stress Physiology at the University of Missouri. His research focuses on heat stress, swine productivity, and practical welfare innovations through physiology and genomics.