By Katie Spring, Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center is pleased to announce the On-Farm Milk Storage & Handling Grant Awards.
Projects from this grant will streamline milk handling and pick up for both farmers and milk haulers; make milk storage and handling more efficient; improve on-farm food safety, and enhance milk quality. These projects include installing bulk tanks, high-speed milk pumps, and cleaning and sanitation systems.
38 dairy businesses from across 8 states were selected for awards. Individual award amounts will range from $15,000 to $50,000 with a total of $1,486,046 in overall funding.
Fourteen Vermont farms were selected for awards.
- Ayers Brook Goat Dairy – $15,000 to replace its existing hot water heater and tank with a new 100-gallon hot water supply system for cleaning and sanitation of storage and handling equipment.
- Ballard Acres – $50,000 to purchase and install a 6700-gallon bulk storage tank, new air-cooled condensing units, and a plate heat exchanger.
- Daona Farm – $50,000 to purchase install a high-speed milk pump for their 3 bulk tanks.
- Deer Flats Farm – $50,000 to install a 5000-gallon bulk tank.
- Doton Farm – $50,000 to replace its bulk storage tank with a new tank, condenser and compressors, pre-heater, and wash system.
- Fairmont Farm – $50,000 to install a piper system.
- Farmer Hodge’s– $50,000 to upgrade their bulk tank and pipeline washing systems with new specialized equipment.
- Fern River Farm – $15,035 to purchase and install a bulk tank, temperature chard recorder, and specialized cleaning equipment for their sheep milk.
- Fort Waite Farm – $50,000 to purchase and install a 4000-gallon bulk tank with compressor units.
- Keewaydin Farm– $50,000 to purchase and install a 1500-gallon bulk tank.
- Maple Cedar View Farm – $31,153 to complete their transition from a pipeline sytem to a parlor with the installation of a plate cooler, parlor pipeline and pulsators.
- Osgood’s Organic Farm – $17,382 to install a new washing system and bulk tank compressor.
- Shadagee Farm – $50,000 to purchase and install a 3000-gallon bulk tank.
- Woodnotch Farms –$17,709 to install a new plate cooler and bottom loading system to their bulk tank.
