The Dairy Advancement Program, in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, is designed to enhance the profitability of New York dairy farms while maintaining a commitment to environmentally responsible dairy farming. DAP is funded through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The program is coordinated through Cornell PRO-DAIRY and delivered to farms in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Agri service professionals.

Farm Eligibility

• Farm must be located in New York State.
• Farm must go through the application process and be approved.
• Farm must be a dairy cattle farm shipping milk.
• Farm must have complete financial records to qualify for business planning or operational planning funds.
• Must have a current Comprehensive Nutritient Management Plan (CNMP) if applying for funds to design Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Project Eligibility

• Planning for long-term viability - preference for small to mid-size farms
• Recordkeeping systems - implementation and support of a new, or significant update to an existing, recordkeeping system.
• Operational planning - first year of budgeting and planning with an operational focus to assist with analyzing costs and opportunities for improvement of current operations.
• Business planning - develop a business plan which may include, but is not limited to business planning, transition analysis, facility planning and farmstead layout planning.
• Advisory teams - facilitated by extension or agribusiness personnel, focus on a specific area of improvement for an individual dairy farm meeting periodically throughout the year to identify solutions and recommend a plan for implementation.

Environmental Planning**

• CNMP (Certified Nutrient Management Plan) updates by an AEM Certified Planner for farms with less than 300 mature cows.
• New CNMPs by an AEM Certified Planner for farms with less than 300 mature cows.
• Design by an engineer of best management practices (BMPs) identified in the farm CNMP, including the construction inspection and as built certification for that practice. (see FAQ page for a list of eligible BMPs) for farms with less than 700 mature cows.

Eligible BMPs:

• 561 Heavy Use Area (e.g. concrete barnyard)
• 367 Roofs and Covers (e.g. cover over a barnyard)
• 317 Composting Facility
• 316 Animal Mortality Facility
• 635 Vegetative Treatment Area
• 360 Waste Facility Closure
• 632 Waste Separation Facility
• 313 Waste Storage Facility
• 634 Waste Transfer
• 629 Waste Treatment

In addition, funds may be used to:

• Hire an engineer to certify an existing structure.
• Complete a soils investigation that is associated with the design of an eligible BMP.
• Complete a farmstead topographic survey that is associated with the design of an eligible BMP.

Program Funding

The Dairy Advancement Program funds 80 percent of the cost of the project (up to established limits) and the participating farmer pays the remaining 20 percent of the project cost directly to the provider of the service. If the total project cost exceeds the amount of awarded funds, the farmer is additionally responsible for covering the balance of the project cost. Awarded funds are disbursed through Cornell University upon receipt of the invoice and completed project delivery form. The program ends when funds are depleted or no longer available. Projects are expected to move forward in a consistent manner or farms risk forfeiting the award.

Business & Environmental Planning Projects***

• Recordkeeping systems - up to $2,500 for implementation and support of a new, or significant update to an existing, record-keeping system.
• Operational planning - up to $2,500 for a farm's first year of budgeting and planning with an operational focus to assist with analyzing costs and opportunities for improvement of current operations.
• Advisory Team - up to $3,000 for a team of advisors to assist the farm with improvement of specific aspects of dairy business performance.
• New business planning - up to $5,000 for a farm to develop a business plan which may include, but is not limited to business planning and analysis of operation, transition analysis, facility planning and farmstead layout planning.
• Continued business planning - up to $2,500 for continuation of business planning for a farm previously awarded business planning funds

Environmental Planning Projects

• Up to $6,000 for a new CNMP (or existing CNMP more than three years old) plus the first year of service.
• Up to $4,500 for a CNMP update plus the first year of service.
• Up to $5,000 for the design of a single BMP recommended in the farm CNMP or up to $10,000 for the design of a combination of BMPs. Funds may be used toward the cost of the design, but not the actual construction costs of the designed practice.
• Up to $3,000 for construction oversight and as built certification of a BMP, $6,000 for a combination of BMPs.
• Up to $2,500 to evaluate an existing structure (e.g. waste storage).
• Up to $5,000 for engineering services related to development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan under the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit necessary for the construction of an eligible BMP.
• Up to $2,500 for construction oversight and as built certification associated with a SPDES permit for an eligible BMP.
• Up to $1,000 for a soils investigation and/or topographic survey associated with the design of an eligible BMP.

** Provided through the Environmental Protection Fund.

*** Program funds should not duplicate funds available from other sources (e.g. EQIP, AgNPS, etc.).

Other resources 

Apply online

Application instructions

Program guidelines

Meet a DAP farmer

If you have any questions about the DAP program contact Camila Lage at cd546@cornell.edu or 607-422-6788