DBIA offers grants of up to $100,000—and up to $150,000 for major equipment purchases—to small- and medium-sized farmers and processors across 11 states.
Reporting by Morning Ag Clips details the launch of the latest grant application round from the Dairy Business Innovation Alliance (DBIA), a collaborative partnership between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) and the Center for Dairy Research (CDR). The fall 2026 cycle provides direct financial backing to help small- and medium-sized dairy enterprises across the Midwest modernize facilities, introduce value-added products, and scale operational capacity.
The grant program is open to eligible dairy farmers, manufacturers, and processors located in 11 Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Funding targets projects focused on on-farm diversification, new product development, improved processing technologies, and the commercial utilization of dairy byproducts.
The alliance maintains two complementary funding streams: the Dairy Business Builder grant program for individual enterprise projects, and the Dairy Industry Impact grant program for initiatives that offer broader sector-wide benefits. Qualified businesses are permitted to submit proposals to both streams and can receive awards of up to $100,000 per program, with grant limits expanding up to $150,000 for projects requiring major capital equipment investments.
All application materials and submission guidelines are accessible online through the DBIA portal at dbia.wisc.edu, with completed proposals due by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on September 30, 2026. To support prospective applicants, the alliance provides instructional video resources and step-by-step guidance outlining proposal preparation, financial documentation, and eligibility criteria.
Supported by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding established under the 2018 federal Farm Bill, the DBIA has awarded more than $26 million across nearly 320 grants to Midwestern dairy businesses since its founding. In addition to direct capital grants, the alliance offers technical assistance and industry consulting to foster long-term enterprise viability, drive innovation, and enhance dairy supply chain resilience across the region.
Source: Morning Ag Clips
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