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Iowa Awards 15 Dairy Innovation Grants to Boost Processing and Efficiency

Iowa Awards 15 Dairy Innovation Grants to Boost Processing and Efficiency


By Andi Anderson

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig has announced 15 Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grants, providing $750,000 in funding to expand on-farm processing and implement labor-saving technologies in the dairy industry. The grants aim to increase efficiency, support Iowa dairy farms, and enhance local dairy product availability.

Investing in Dairy Innovation

The cost-share grants will assist farms in purchasing new processing equipment, automated feeding systems, robotic milkers, and health monitoring tools. Iowa State University Creamery, one of the recipients, will use its grant to expand cheese processing at its on-campus facility.

“This program bolsters Iowa’s dairy industry by supporting modernization and efficiency,” said Secretary Naig. “Consumers will benefit from a wider variety of Iowa-made dairy products while helping farmers reduce labor challenges.”

Grant Details and Recipients

33 applications were submitted, requesting over $1.5 million, more than double the available funding.

15 projects were selected, leveraging $4.1 million in total investment.

Grants cover pasteurization, bottling, milking robots, health monitoring, and feed automation.

Supporting Iowa’s Dairy Farmers

The Iowa State Dairy Association praised the program’s impact, with President Robert Horst highlighting how it addresses labor shortages and expands dairy processing capacity.

Future of Choose Iowa

Administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Choose Iowa program also supports meat processing and value-added agriculture projects.

Photo Credit:gettyimages-jesp62

Responsible Beef Herd Expansion Strategies for Long Term Success Responsible Beef Herd Expansion Strategies for Long Term Success

Categories: Iowa, Government & Policy, Livestock, Dairy Cattle, Sustainable Agriculture

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