USDA funding for western US dairies
Credit: PCC grantee Cottage Hill Creamery goat milk products (Beavercreek, OR). Credit: PCC
Over US$11 million (€9.2m) in grant funding has been released by the US Department of Agriculture through the Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS) to support dairy producers and businesses through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) initiative. The allocation of $690,000 (€578,000) will strengthen small and mid-sized dairy businesses and university pilot plants in California, Oregon and Washington, all served by the Pacific Coast Coalition – Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (PCC-DBII).
“We anticipate a quick turnaround in distributing these funds so the awardees can see results,” said PCC director Carmen Licon. “Based on applications submitted in the recent fall 2025 cycle, these resources will help dairy processors in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products.”
According to project co-director and “Cowkeeper” Susan Pheasant, many generational farms and new innovators will now be able to better produce cheese, ice cream and additional higher value dairy products.
Hosted by California State University, Fresno, The PCC-DBII is funded through the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and is a collaboration with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Chapman University, Oregon State University, Oregon Dairy Council, Washington State University and the California Dairy Innovation Center.
