Dairy Processor Grants

The 2027 Dairy Processor Grants application period opened on July 28, 2026. Navigate to the Request for Proposals and Application. Completed grant applications are due by noon on September 1, 2026.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection administers a Dairy Processor Grant program whose goal is to foster innovation, improve profitability and sustain the long-term viability of Wisconsin’s dairy processing facilities.

Eligible applicants must operate a licensed dairy processing plant in Wisconsin engaged in pasteurizing, processing or manufacturing milk or dairy products. Recipients are chosen through a competitive process. A total grant up to $50,000 is available per dairy processor per year. The dairy processor is required to provide a match of at least 20% of the grant amount.

Grant applications are customized by each processor and can be used to hire consultants to address a wide range of business needs including food safety, staff training, or modernization.