The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets manages the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, one of three USDA Dairy Business Innovation Centers (DBIC) in the U.S. The Northeast DBIC launched in February of 2020 and serves all New England states, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
The Northeast 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 through four pillars:
- Environmental Resource Management: water quality, forage and cropping strategies, and efficient utilization of resources
- Business Management: business profitability, skill development, and future-focused strategy
- Animals: breed/species that appropriately match business’ production model and business goals
- People: career satisfaction; appropriate compensation; ability to develop; and safe, dignified professional reputation
$6.59 million was awarded by the USDA for the creation of the Vermont-based Northeast DBIC for projects extending through 2023. Half of the federal funding awarded for the Northeast DBIC will be granted to dairy farmers and value-added processors.
Funding for the DBIC was made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service through grants AM190100XXXXG081 and AM200100XXXXG003. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
