About the Dairy Plus Program
The Dairy Plus Program, led by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS), provides competitive grants to help California dairy farms adopt advanced manure management practices. These sustainable strategies aim to reduce methane emissions, manage nitrogen and salt levels, and address key environmental challenges in dairy production.
In 2022, the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF), in partnership with CDFA and other, secured an $85 million award from the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers initiative (formerly the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program). Over five years, this investment will fund on-farm improvements, technical support, emissions monitoring, and the development of markets for sustainable dairy products. Of this total, approximately $75 million is being distributed through the Dairy Plus Program, which began accepting applications in 2023.
The Dairy Plus Program supports enhancements to AMMP and DDRDP projects with certain eligible practices:
For new, in progress, or previously completed AMMP projects:
- Vermifiltration
- Manure solid separation via weeping wall
- Advanced solid-liquid separation with flocculants and/or bead filters
- Advanced solid-liquid separation by centrifuge
- Primary practice may be accompanied by subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) or aerated composting
- Post-digester vermifiltration
- Post-digester advanced solid-liquid separation with flocculants and/or bead filters
- Post-digester advanced solid-liquid separation by centrifuge
- Primary practice may be accompanied by SDI using liquid manure digestate
Impact
As of December 2025, the Dairy Plus Program has conducted two grant solicitation rounds, one in 2023, and one in 2024. The results include:
Grant Solicitations
The 2024 Dairy Plus Program solicitation is closed. Applications were accepted between July 23 and October 18, 2024. CDFA received 49 applications requesting $57.8 million in grant funds.
In December 2025, CDFA announced awards for 23 projects for the 2024 Dairy Plus Program grant round, totaling $26.8 million in federal grant funding. The list of awarded projects is available:| Item | Estimated Time Frame* |
|---|---|
| Application Period (2024 Grant Round) | July 23 - October 18, 2024 |
| Review Process (2024 Grant Round) | October 2024 - February 2025 |
| USDA Program Pause and Transition from Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities to Advancing Markets for Producers | February 2025 - December 2025 |
| Award Announcement (2024 Grant Round) | December 2025 |
| Grant Term for 2024 Projects Begins | Spring - Summer 2026 |
* Subject to change
Past Solicitations
For reference materials, applicant and awardee lists from past grant solicitations, visit the Dairy Plus Archives page.
Technical Assistance Resources
For direction in identifying available technical assistance resources appropriate for your project type and region, please reach out to:
Denise Mullinax, CDRF, Executive Director – CDQAP, Assistant Director
Phone: 209-585-6744
Email: cdqap@cdrf.org (please include Dairy Plus TA in the subject line)
CDRF Dairy Plus Program Webpage
Program Status
Technical Assistance
Denise Mullinax (California Dairy Research Foundation Executive Director, and CDQAP Assistant Director)
Email: cdqap@cdrf.org
Visit: https://cdrf.org/plus-assistance/