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Grants / Agriculture

Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives Program (DBI) Fiscal Year 2026

Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture

Deadline
December 1, 2026Applications must be submitted electronically no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time.
Award size
$2.3 million to $3.5 millionAbout 4 awards
Matching funds
RequiredYou must contribute some of the cost
Fit for small groups
Better for larger organizations

In plain language

This grant helps fund projects that diversify dairy product markets and support dairy businesses. It is meant for organizations working with dairy initiatives and improving dairy production and marketing.

The money can pay for

  • Diversifying dairy product markets
  • Supporting dairy business development
  • Encouraging regional milk production
  • Equipment and infrastructure investments

Who can apply

Only the existing four initiatives of the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives program can apply, including the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin.

Is it a fit for a small group?

Better for larger organizations. This grant is only available to specific existing organizations and focuses on large-scale dairy initiatives, which may not fit the work of a small community nonprofit.

Before you apply

  • Matching funds are required
  • Only specific organizations can apply
  • Awards are large and limited in number
  • Federal applicants need an active registration at SAM.gov and a Grants.gov account. Registration can take several weeks, so start early.

This summary was written by GrantGather with AI, based on the official listing. It can contain mistakes. Check the official listing on Grants.gov before you apply.

From the official listing

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for fiscal year (FY) 2026 from existing initiatives of the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives Program: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. These initiatives serve to: • Diversify dairy product markets to reduce risk and develop higher value uses for dairy products; • Promote business development that diversifies farmer income through processing and marketing innovation; and • Encourage the use of regional milk production. Approximately $12.65 million is available to fund these initiatives. In the FY 2025 application cycle, AMS funded four applications from the existing initiatives awarding a total of $11,040,000. AMS strongly encourages DBI…

Read the full description

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for fiscal year (FY) 2026 from existing initiatives of the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives Program: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin. These initiatives serve to: • Diversify dairy product markets to reduce risk and develop higher value uses for dairy products; • Promote business development that diversifies farmer income through processing and marketing innovation; and • Encourage the use of regional milk production. Approximately $12.65 million is available to fund these initiatives. In the FY 2025 application cycle, AMS funded four applications from the existing initiatives awarding a total of $11,040,000. AMS strongly encourages DBI initiatives to prioritize subaward funding for projects that request equipment and infrastructure activities in their proposals for these FY2026 funds. See the DBI Specific Terms and Conditions for guidance on allowable equipment and construction costs. Equipment and infrastructure investments are critical to strengthening the dairy industry and overall dairy businesses capacity and DBI is currently uniquely positioned to offer such targeted funding opportunities.

Opportunity number
USDA-AMS-TM-DBI-G-26-0011
Posted
September 30, 2026
Total funding
$13 million
Eligible applicants
Others (see eligibility details)
Eligibility details
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), requests applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 only from the existing four initiatives of the Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives program: the California State University Fresno Foundation, the University of Tennessee, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and the University of Wisconsin.
Assistance listing
10.176 Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives
Agency contact
Agricultural Marketing Service
IPPGrants@usda.gov
202-260-8449
Open the official listing on Grants.govAgency’s full announcement

Nonprofits are eligible here through the “Others” category. Read the eligibility details carefully.