By Ollie Cultrara, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets - January 2022
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is pleased to announce the award of Goat & Sheep Dairy Supply Chain Grants to six dairy businesses in Vermont and New Jersey. The funds will support a variety of projects aimed at improving goat and sheep dairy supply chains. Five grantees are located in Vermont:
Ayers Brook Goat Dairy, LLC of Randolph will increase herd productivity through genetic herd improvements and sales of bucklings and semen with proven genetics throughout the region. These efforts will bolster the genetic foundation of dairy goat herds at farms throughout New England to support competitiveness and profitability of the regional goat dairy industry.
Boston Post Dairy, LLC of Enosburg Falls will invest in key systems and equipment to increase production efficiencies and expand product line availability to existing and prospective retail accounts.
lu•lu Artisan Ice Cream (Harmack LLC) of Vergennes will conduct research and development of new value-added lines of goat and/or sheep milk ice cream to address a niche market opportunity.
Tups Crossing Farm LLC of Orwell, VT will purchase equipment to improve operational efficiencies and milk quality to help meet demand for local fluid goat milk by Vermont Creamery.
Vermont Shepherd LLC of Putney, VT will increase the genetic capacity of dairy sheep in Vermont and provide an education series to potential and existing sheep dairy farmers.
The sixth grant recipient is Misty Meadows Sheep Dairy of Woodbine, New Jersey.
For more information, visit agriculture.vermont.gov/dbic/activities/goat-sheep-dairy-supply-chain-grant