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 others, secured an $85 million award through 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 the total, approximately $75 million is being distributed through the Dairy Plus Program, which began accepting applications in 2023.
Eligible Practices: the Dairy Plus Program supports certain emerging technologies and practices that can be quantified using the Benefits Calculator Tools from the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) and Dairy Digester Research and Development Program (DDRDP). Projects are often larger both in scale and their potential benefits for reducing emissions and protecting water quality by building on alternative manure management practices or treating digestate. Eligible practices include weeping walls, vemifiltration, advanced solid-liquid separation with flocculants and/or bead filters, and centrifuge separation. They may be accompanied by secondary practices such as subsurface drip irritation or aerated composting.
Grant Solicitations
The Dairy Plus Program is now accepting grant applications until 5:00 P.M. PT on Monday, September 14, 2026.
Information for Applicants
Apply Online
To submit an application, please visit CDFA's Grant Opportunity Administration and Tracking System, click "Log in" to create a new account or sign in to an existing account, and navigate to the 2026 Dairy Plus Program funding opportunity.
Links to Application Attachment Templates and Forms
Informational Webinars
CDFA will host two webinars to go over program requirements and the application process. Each webinar will cover the same material. Participants can attend by registering for webinar access:
Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. PT
Register for Informational Webinars on Thursday, June 25, 2026, 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. PTWednesday, July 8, 2026, 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. PT
Register for Informational Webinars on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. PTQuestions
CDFA cannot assist in the preparation of grant applications; however, general questions may be submitted to cdfa.oefi_DairyPlus@cdfa.ca.gov. Responses to general or programmatic questions received during informational webinars or by email will be posted according to the schedule below. Please note that CDFA is unable to advise and/or provide applicants with any information regarding specific grant applications during the solicitation process.
| Questions Received By: | Responses Posted By: |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2026 | July 10, 2026 |
| July 24, 2026 | July 31, 2026 |
| August 21, 2026 | August 28, 2026 |
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 Timeline
| Event | Estimated Time Frame* |
|---|---|
| 2026 Grant Application Period Opens | June 16, 2026 |
| Informational Webinars for Applicants | June 25 and July 8, 2026 |
| 2026 Grant Applications Due | September 14, 2026 |
| Review Process | September – November 2026 |
| Award Announcement | November 2026 |
| Grant Term for 2026 Projects Begins | March 2027 |
* Subject to change
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:
Past Solicitations
For reference materials, applicant and awardee lists from past grant solicitations, visit the Dairy Plus Archives page.
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/