New York's Dairy Farms Receive $21.6 Million Support

As Dairy Month begins in New York, the state has announced a support of $21.6 million for more than 100 farms, including seven in Cayuga County. The funds are being channeled through the Dairy Modernization Grant Program, highlighted in Governor Kathy Hochul's 2024 State of the State address, aimed at assisting farms with equipment purchases, storage expansion, and other infrastructure projects.

The seven farms in Cayuga County are part of 18 farms in central New York receiving over $3.9 million. For example, Allen Farms in Scipio will use the funds to install three direct load ports and a high-speed milk loadout pump, facilitating faster milk truck fill-ups.

Other improvements across the farms include increased milk storage, reduced load times for milk haulers, and energy-saving installations such as heat recovery systems and modern plate coolers.

McGarr Farms in Genoa, for instance, will boost its milk storage capacity from 2,000 to 10,000 gallons, enhancing milk cooling efficiency. Meanwhile, Patterson Farms in Aurelius plans to replace a 1,300-gallon milk silo with a 20,000-gallon one, significantly upping its storage capacity from 14,300 to 33,000 gallons.

Governor Hochul stated, "New York's dairy industry is the backbone of our agricultural economy, supporting thousands of jobs across our rural communities." This initiative aims to equip "hardworking dairy farmers and cooperatives with the tools they need to grow, innovate and lead in a changing market."

Administered by the Farm and Food Growth Fund, the program's first round of funding is included in the 2024-25 state budget, with a following round proposed in the 2025-26 state budget, containing an additional $10 million.