$19 Million Infusion to Benefit Northeast Dairy Businesses
by Kathryn Donovan, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) hosted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets announces the receipt of $19 million in one-time grant funds from USDA. Funds will be used for projects that directly impact dairy businesses in the Northeast.
Over the coming months and years, new and expanded programs will benefit dairy farmers and processors through programs that will cover topics of existing processor expansion, new processor start-up, farm modernization, dairy product innovation, apprenticeship program, and a business-to-business regional dairy product directory.
This crucial one-time funding will increase the reach of NE-DBIC’s current programs. Funds will expand programs that have been built since the 2019 inception of the Center: competitive grants for dairy businesses, business viability support, and resources to ensure that dairy processors can access capital necessary to stay competitive in the marketplace.
The first new program will roll out in late 2022; a grant program that will support dairy farms in expansion and upgrades to on-farm milk storage and handling equipment. Funds will help farmers access the necessary equipment to increase farm efficiencies and respond to milk transport and supply chain challenges.
Areas of focus for these funds were largely informed by the Northeast Dairy Task Force, convened by NE-DBIC to identify critical areas for improving the stability and viability of the regional dairy sector.
The NE- DBIC provides support to dairy businesses through projects that promote the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. Projects target dairy farms and processors while providing additional support through market research and technical assistance. The Center's investment and project strategy promotes innovation and resiliency for regional production of dairy products across Vermont and Northeast region.
For more information about NE-DBIC, please visit: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic
Funds Available for Service Providers to Offer Dairy Farmer Cohort Technical Assistance
by Brockton Corbett, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
On August 10, 2022, the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center will release a request for proposals (RFP) for technical assistance providers who can provide cohort-based technical assistance for dairy farmers. Topics can include areas of focus such as increased/improved grazing, enhancing home-grown forages, and other alternative management practices. This is the fourth round of this cohort technical assistance program and will join cohorts that are currently ongoing through University of Vermont, White River Natural Resources Conservation District, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA), Cooperative Regions of Organic Producer Pools (CROPP), Cornell Cooperative Extension, Conservation Performance LLC, and University of Maine.
Service providers will use funds to enroll farms; host on-farm cohort learning opportunities; provide one-on-one technical assistance to cohort members; work with participant farmers to determine if their project would benefit from NE-DBIC grant funds to implement project activities and if so, support farms in developing a grant plan and application for funds; and to communicate and coordinate with other contracted service providers awarded through this program.
Proposals will be accepted until September 23, 2022. Resulting contracts will be for up to $150,000 and are expected to be executed over an 18-month to two-year period. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3yaf18w or contact Kathryn.Donovan@vermont.gov or 802-585-4571.
Dairy Processor Brand Strategy and Marketing Toolkit
by Brockton Corbett, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
For many small businesses, finding the right marketing and branding strategy is an important yet often overlooked aspect of an otherwise successful operation. This is something that is also true for small and medium dairy businesses. Hoping to understand more about what makes successful dairy marketing and branding for small and midsized processors in the Northeast, the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center worked with the Good People Research Company to distill key takeaways for dairy processors.
The results of the research are a marketing toolkit for processors to utilize, a set of 12 case studies of successful approaches taken by dairy processors, and a summarizing report, Marketing and Branding for Small Diary Processors in the Northeast US. The research conducted includes consumer and producer surveys and interviews with processors in the region.
To access the toolkit, final report, and webinar, visit: agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic/resources