Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center has a new grant for existing Northeast dairy processors. The Dairy Co-Packing Grant supports licensed dairy processors and dairy brands in the Northeast that already engage in or are planning to use co-packing arrangements.
The grant is open to:
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Dairy processors who wish to initiate new co-packing arrangements.
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Dairy processors with existing co-packing services who want to grow, add new products, or expand partnerships.
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Dairy brands that plan to scale current co-packing or to initiate co-packing arrangements of existing products.
Grant funds can help buy specialized dairy processing equipment and supplies, pay for professional marketing and branding services, improve food safety, and cover contract fees directly associated with establishing a new co-packing relationship as part of a start-up project. At least 10% of grant funds must be used for training or technical assistance related to co-packing.
The application will be open from February 11th through April 3rd.
Awards will range from $15,000 – $150,000 with a 25% in-kind and/or cash match contribution. Approximately $1,100,000 in total funds are available this round.
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Learn About Transitioning to Organic Dairy
Join NOFA-VT on February 11th from 12-1pm for a free, virtual conversation exploring the current organic milk market in Vermont.
This meeting will support you in weighing the costs and benefits of what transitioning to organic dairy - either transitioning your land/herd or buying a herd - could mean for your particular farm.
Presenters will include: Bill Cavanaugh and Jen Miller (NOFA-VT); Kyla Bedard (Vermont Organic Farmers), Sarah Flack (independent consultant); and representatives from Vermont milk buyers.
Register now
Vermont Grain Growers Conference
You're invited to the 2025 Grain Growers Conference: The Links of a Local Grain Supply Chain, presented by the University of Vermont Extension Northwest Crops and Soils program. The featured speaker at this event will be Randy George, co-owner and founder of Red Hen Baking Company. This event will also feature baking sessions by Jeffrey Hamelman and Laura Valli.
The conference will take place March 12th in Essex, VT. Pre-registration is strongly recommended.
Register now
Join a two-day masterclass on February 22nd & 23rd in South Royalton that will cover the art of sausage making from start to finish. The training will focus on trimming, weighing, linking, and smoking.
Participants will gain hands-on experience making sausages from start to finish with the guidance and instruction of master butcher Elizabeth Roma and pitmaster expert Dr. DeMetris Reed. Participants will leave the training with recipes, guides, and the sausages that they've prepared.
Register now
Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
February
2/20 - Dairy Farm Improvement & Modernization Grant deadline
March
3/2 - Big E Vendor Application deadline
April
4/3 - Dairy Co-Packing Grant deadline
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Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
116 State St. Montpelier, VT 05620
https://agriculture.vermont.gov
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