Get Ready to Submit Your 2026 Grant Applications!
As of December 2025, the Dairy Plus Program has conducted two grant solicitation rounds, one in 2023, and one in 2024. The results include:
Prospective applicants are encouraged to start planning and preparing in advance of the application period. Up to date program information that can assist with the planning process, including materials and resources from previous grant solicitation rounds and availability of free technical assistance can be found here. Sign up for email notifications to be alerted about the application period, workshops and outreach events.
About the Dairy PLUS Program
The Dairy Plus Program is a new incentive program operating in alliance with CDFA’s AMMP and DDRDP programs, which incentivize practices such as manure solids separation and creating ways to manage more manure in a dry form while reducing methane production. In addition to the methane reduction strategies of these practices, Dairy Plus Program practices can further improve upon water quality and nutrient surplus management. Projects selected for funding included vermifiltration (filtration of manure wastewater using worms), advanced separation assisted by flocculants (coagulation of fine manure solids for separation out of liquid) and weeping walls (non-mechanical separation of manure solids from water) that can keep more manure out of a liquid environment and help capture nitrogen. Importantly, they will also reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizer, building soils, protecting ground water quality and making operations more profitable from a nutrient-management perspective.
Dairy Plus Program incentive funds will help bring emerging technologies that reduce methane and improve groundwater protection to California dairies as full-scale projects. The practices will be measured by UC researchers to quantify emission reductions and improved water quality outcomes.
Funding for the Dairy Plus Program is provided through CDRF, in collaboration with CDFA, as part of a larger U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative – now named Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP). Eighty-seven percent ($75 million of $86.7 million) of CDRF’s total AMP grant is allocated directly to dairy farmer incentive payments for the implementation of advanced manure management practices. Every Federal dollar is matched with state matching funds as well as producer dollars.
Application rounds 2023-2025:
- 2023: Dairy Plus Program projects currently include 14 dairy farm advanced manure management technologies, totaling more than $16 million in dairy farmer incentive funds. Projects are currently in differing states of construction with several nearing completion.
- 2024: Forty-nine applications were received, requesting $57.8 million in grant funds. These applications are in review and awards are anticipated to be announced shortly.
- 2026: The application period is planned to be announced early 2026.
All announced awards for the program are contingent upon dairy producers completing a pre-project consultation and meeting federal requirements.
Learn more about the December 2025 relaunch of the AMP initiative and Dairy PLUS Program opportunities announced here.