Dairy PLUS Program
The Dairy Plus Program is a new program under CDFA’s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (OEFI). This program will award competitive grants to California dairy farms for the implementation of advanced manure management practices that reduce both methane emissions and nutrient surplus.
The California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF), in collaboration with CDFA and several other organizations, was awarded $85 million in funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program in 2022. Over five years, this project will work to provide incentives to producers to adopt advanced climate-smart manure management practices along with outreach and technical assistance, measure greenhouse gas and nitrogen benefits associated with implemented practices, and develop markets for climate-smart commodities. Approximately $75 million of the total awarded amount will support the implementation of advanced manure management practices, and be administered through the Dairy Plus Program starting in 2023.
The Dairy Plus Program is now accepting grant applications until 5:00 P.M. PT on Friday, October 18, 2024. The application platform and documents are listed below.
If you are applying for a new 2024 AMMP grant and a Dairy Plus Program grant, or you are a previous AMMP recipient with an in-progress or completed project applying only for a Dairy Plus Program grant, you will use the 2024 AMMP application submission portal.
If you are applying for a new 2024 DDRDP grant and a Dairy Plus Program grant, or you are a previous DDRDP recipient with an in-progress or complete project applying only for a Dairy Plus Program grant, you will use the 2024 DDRDP application submission portal.
- Request for Grant Applications
- Supporting Templates and Attachments
- Preview of Application Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
CDFA Informational Webinars
CDFA will host two webinars to go over program requirements and the application process. These will be held as joint webinars for AMMP, DDRDP, and the Dairy Plus Program. Please view the webinar Agenda to see the breakdown of times for each program – participants are welcome to join for any or all portions. Each webinar will cover the same material. Participants can attend by registering for webinar access:
- Wednesday, August 7, 2024 (Agenda )
1:00 – 4:00 PM PT
Registrationfor Aug 7, 2024 - Tuesday, August 13, 2024 (Agenda )
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PT
Registrationfor Aug 13, 2024
Questions
CDFA cannot assist in the preparation of grant applications; however, general questions may be submitted to cdfa.oefi_DairyPlus@cdfa.ca.gov. Responses to general or programmatic questions received during informational webinars or by email will be posted according to the schedule below. Please note that CDFA is unable to advise and/or provide applicants with any information regarding specific grant applications during the solicitation process.
| Questions Received by: | Responses Posted by: |
|---|---|
| August 15, 2024 | August 22, 2024 |
| September 5, 2024 | September 12, 2024 |
| September 26, 2024 | October 3, 2024 |
Technical Assistance Resources
For direction in identifying available technical assistance resources appropriate for your project type and region, please reach out to:
Denise Mullinax, CDRF, Executive Director – CDQAP, Assistant Director
Phone: 209-585-6744
Email: cdqap@cdrf.org (please include Dairy Plus TA in the subject line)
Program Timeline for Dairy Plus*
| Item | Estimated Time Frame* |
|---|---|
| Application Period Open | July 23, 2024 |
| Application Period Closed | October 18, 2024 |
| Review Process | October 2024 - February 2025 |
| Award Announcement | March 2025 |
| Grant Term for 2024 Projects Begins | Fall 2025 |
(*Subject to change)
Email Subscriptions
Program Status
Open
Program is currently accepting applications.