Northwest Iowa Dairy Secures Grant for Milking Parlor Innovation
Vellema Dairy, a dairy operation based in Harris, Northwest Iowa, is among the 11 recipients of the Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant. This funding initiative aims to support the installation of a double-seven parabone-style milking parlor, with Vellema Dairy receiving $175,000 for this purpose. The overall cost for the project is anticipated to be $182,849.
The Choose Iowa Dairy Innovation Grant program is designed to help dairy farmers across the state improve operational efficiency, expand their processing capabilities, and bring more locally made dairy products to market. In total, 11 projects have been awarded funding amounting to $614,620.35, which will leverage more than $1.27 million in investments.
The grant provides competitive matching funds up to $100,000 per project, requiring a one-on-one financial match from the recipients. This is intended to support on-farm dairy processing and implement labor-saving technologies. Eligible projects for this grant include investments in processing and packaging equipment, robotics, automatic feeding systems, and herd health monitoring technology, among other innovations.
Iowa's Agriculture Secretary, Mike Naig, emphasized the importance of the program in helping farmers enhance their operations and expand their market reach. The announcement of these grants was made in conjunction with Dairy Month in June, underscoring the state's commitment to supporting its dairy industry.
