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.
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 2026 Dairy Plus Program is now closed. Applications were accepted between June 16 and September 14, 2026. CDFA received 52 applications requesting $62.7 million in grant funds, with $29.9 million proposed in matching funds.
Reference Materials
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
Past Solicitations
For reference materials, applicant and awardee lists from past grant solicitations, visit the Dairy Plus Archives page.
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
Program Status
Technical Assistance
Denise Mullinax (California Dairy Research Foundation Executive Director, and CDQAP Assistant Director)
Email: cdqap@cdrf.org
Visit: https://cdrf.org/advancing-markets-for-producers/