The NY Center for Dairy Excellence is offering the first program to bring Dairy Profit Teams to farms throughout the state.

WHAT:  Dairy Profit Teams are advisors that help a farm identify issues and opportunties on the farm, develop strategies for change, and offer suggestions.  The farm owner is responsible for making decisions. 

Teams typically consists of five or so advisors of the farmer's choosing, often bankers, agronomists, animal nutritionists, veterinarians, consultants, Cooperative Extension educators, and others.  Each team has a facilitator who helps keep team meetings running.  Team members and facilitators receive stipends.

Under this program, Dairy Profit Teams may receive cost share assistance of $2,400, approximately 80 percent of the costs to run a team for one year.

WHY: New York dairy farmers have asked for this program.  Based on successful programs in other states, including Pennsylvania and Minnesota, and a pilot program launched by the NY Center for Dairy Excallence and NY Farm Viability Institute in late 2007, we believe Dairy Profit Teams can help farms implement cost-savings and profit-generating strategies.

WHO:  The NYCDE has funding to launch approximately 45 teams from June-December 2009.  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, until funding is exhausted.

The program seeks to work with farms of diverse herd size, production practices, and geographic location.

WHEN:  Each team must meet a minimum of five times.  Teams may hold their first meeting between June and october 2009.

WHERE:  The program is limited to dairy farms within New York State. 

HOW: To apply for cost share, farms should complete the following application and return it by fax or email:

Word document version: click here

PDF version: click here

For more information about the NY Center for Dairy Excellence, click here.