2026 Dairy Plus Program

The 2026 Dairy Plus Program will award competitive grants to California dairy farms for the implementation of advanced manure management practices that address both methane emissions and nitrogen and salt surplus. The program will make approximately $34 million available to support the implementation of these practices. Eligible applicants include California farmers, ranchers, and California Native American Tribes. The maximum grant term will be 12 months initially, with the possibility of 24 months pending extension of contract end date approval from USDA. The project funding award cap is $750 per cow, for a maximum of $1,250,000 per project. Some key points to consider: • The project site must be in a commercial California dairy operation. • Producers receiving grant award funds must be registered with the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). • Only 1 FSA-registered entity is eligible for an award in each solicitation round. • The recipient and project must adhere to all “Requirements and Limitations,” which include federal requirements specific to the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers program.