The Dairy Alliance, a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families in the Southeast, has launched a pilot program providing free grant consulting and grant-writing support to eligible dairy farmers. The initiative, conducted in partnership with grant services provider Lasso, aims to help farms identify and secure public funding for on-farm investments without the time burden and complexity typically associated with grant applications. The program is designed for farmers considering equipment upgrades, infrastructure improvements, or energy and efficiency projects who may be uncertain about available grant funding or how to navigate the application process.
By reducing administrative burdens, the pilot allows farmers to focus on sustaining their family businesses while investing in their operations for future generations. Selected participants will receive Lasso's comprehensive support at no cost, including identifying relevant grant opportunities, preparing applications, and managing post-award requirements. Farrah Newberry, CEO of The Dairy Alliance, stated that dairy farmers are constantly looking for innovative ways to invest in their operations, but grant funding can feel out of reach when already juggling everything it takes to run a farm. By allowing Lasso to handle the heavy lifting of applying for grants, farmers can pursue avenues quicker to strengthen their business and support their local community.
Lasso works directly with farms to understand their needs and match projects with federal, state, regional, and local grant programs. These include opportunities such as the Value-Added Producer Grant and the Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative. The company reports a 90 percent success rate and has helped customers secure more than 70 grants, representing millions of dollars in funding for on-farm projects. Farmers can learn more about the organization by visiting https://thedairyalliance.com.
Nicole Rojas, co-founder of Lasso, explained that many farmers have strong project ideas but do not have the time or resources to navigate the grant process on their own. Partnering with The Dairy Alliance allows the removal of that barrier by helping dairy farmers identify the right funding opportunities and manage the grant process from start to finish, so they can focus on running their farms and investing in their operations with confidence. Dairy farmers interested in participating should be open to pursuing public grant funding and have an on-farm project in mind with potential vendors or service providers identified.
Participants may also be invited to take part in a case study for The Dairy Alliance highlighting project type, outcomes, and the benefits of grant funding. The program represents a significant opportunity for dairy operations across eight Southeastern states to access financial resources that might otherwise remain untapped due to application complexities. This initiative matters because it directly addresses a critical barrier to farm sustainability and growth, enabling family-owned dairy operations to modernize and compete more effectively without diverting limited time from daily operations.
