BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced a new program to provide cost-share assistance to North Dakota dairy operations.
The North Dakota Dairy Improvement Assistance Program will help dairy operations invest in necessary updates and improvements to enhance compliance with the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, the national rules for fluid milk.
“The program is available to North Dakota permitted Grade A dairy operations or permitted manufacturing grade dairy operations wanting to utilize the program to potentially transition to Grade A,” Goehring said. “Improvement items that will help increase or maintain compliance are eligible.”
Some of the eligible improvements include:
-New water wells
-Rural water system connections
-Construction materials for the milk house/parlor
-Repairing pitted or cracked floors and more
Applicants may receive up to 75 percent cost share, with a maximum of $3,000, of the eligible costs of the projects. For producers facing extraordinary situations, further consideration may be given for additional funding. Letters and applications were sent to all current North Dakota dairy operations earlier this week.
Additional information is available by contacting the North Dakota Department of Agriculture at 701-328-2231 or 800-242-7535.