Dairy Plus Program – Opportunities for California Dairy Producers

Grants are available for California Dairy Farms for the implementation of advanced manure management practices that reduce both methane emissions and nutrient surplus.

Five Year Project

In 2022, the California Dairy Research Foundation, in collaboration with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and various other organizations, received $85 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. This five-year project aims to encourage producers to adopt advanced climate-smart manure management practices, offer outreach and technical support, assess the greenhouse gas and nitrogen benefits of these practices, and establish markets for climate-smart commodities.

Grant Program Overview

In 2024, the Dairy Plus Program will offer around $58 million to support the adoption of advanced manure management practices. The 2024 Dairy Plus Program will offer additional funding opportunities for projects in the 2024 Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP), the 2024 Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP), as well as ongoing and completed AMMP or DDRDP projects. Projects proposing advanced manure management practices must exceed the standard greenhouse gas emission reductions and benefits already provided by the AMMP and DDRDP programs:

• The grant term will be 24 months.
• Project funding awarded at $750 per cow, for a maximum of $1,250,000.
• Costs incurred before the beginning of the grant agreement will not be reimbursed.
• Awarded projects must be complete and operational no later than 24 months after the start of the grant agreement.
• CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount different than the amount requested.
• Grants are paid out on a reimbursement basis following invoice submission by the awardee.

Types of Projects

The Dairy Plus Program is a new program under CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI). Examples of some of the projects that received funding under this program are as follows:

Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP)

• Weeping wall – aerated composting
• Vermifiltration
• Advanced solid-liquid separation assisted by flocculants and/or bead filters

Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP)

• Vermifilitration – gas transportation fuel
• Vermifilitration - electricity

Application Date

The Dairy Plus Program is currently open for grant applications until 5:00 P.M. PT on Friday, October 18, 2024. Below are the application platform and documents.

Links

Dairy Plus webpage HERE and HERE

List of previously submitted applications HERE

More information about grant recipients and recourses HERE