The Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (SDBII) program is based at The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture’s Animal Science Department. Key program collaborators such as the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA), NC State, the University of Kentucky, Kentucky Dairy Development Council (KDDC), and others, offer guidance and support to the program. SDBII’s mission is to spur growth for dairy producers and processors in the Southeast by helping them modernize, diversify, and innovate.
SDBII provides dairy businesses in the Southeast with a variety of free and low-cost instructional resources. These include an annual value-added dairy conference, a variety of workshops offering advice and insights on topics such as marketing, business plan development, regulations, and more. The program is funded by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In addition to the technical assistance and educational resources provided through SDBII, 50% of the program’s funding is awarded in grants made directly to dairy businesses to assist them in developing new and more profitable products and processes.
In the first phase of funding awarded through the SDBII program in 2021, $227,000 was distributed to dairy businesses throughout the state of Tennessee. The projects that were funded included purchases of new equipment to assist in the production of cheese, ice cream, and bottled milk as well as contracted services from professional consultants to conduct feasibility studies and staff leadership trainings. Tennessee Department of Agriculture played an instrumental role in documenting expenses and distributing the funds that were awarded by the USDA. “We’re proud to work with the University of Tennessee and other partners to provide an opportunity for dairy farmers to strengthen their operations,” TDA Commissioner Dr. Charlie Hatcher said. “Tennessee has a rich history of dairy production, and we’re making sure to utilize every opportunity we can to support this sector of the agriculture industry.”
In 2022, the SDBII program awarded $3,067,048.10 to dairy businesses and expanded to serve dairy businesses in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Kentucky. The funded applications were submitted for projects involving the processing of cow, goat, and sheep’s milk into products including bottled milk, yogurt, ice cream, cheese, and soap. Applicants were allowed to apply for funding to support business planning, product innovation, and processing capacity expansion.
The program then further expanded its reach during the 2022 grant call to make grant funding opportunities available to 12 southeastern states including Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico, with projects starting in the beginning of 2023.
In 2023 the program was able to expand to offer four grants over two grant calls per year, with the Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant and Precision Technology & Technology Grant applications are open winter to spring and the Dairy Businesses Planning and Specialty Processing Equipment grant applications are open summer to fall.
SDBII grant recipients, organized by year of funding and listed in alphabetical order by company name, can be found below.
Cruze Farm, Knoxville, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Cruze Farm will purchase an additional vat pasteurizer to increase the total capacity of an existing on-farm dairy plant and create new flavored milk products.
Horse Creek Farms, Chuckey, TN | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Horse Creek Farms will conduct a feasibility study to determine viability of starting a processing facility to improve the profitability of their existing dairy farm.
Purtle/Cleburne Jersey Farm, Spring Hill, TN | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Purtle/Cleburne Jersey Farm will conduct a feasibility study to explore adding the capacity to produce value-added dairy products on farm.
Robin’s Nest Farm Creamery, Nunnelly, TN | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Robin’s Nest Farm Creamery will conduct a feasibility study and create a business plan for producing cheese and yogurt.
Sequatchie Cove Farms, Sequatchie, TN | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Sequatchie Cove Farms will purchase cheese block molds and hire a consultant to train staff on an “open book” financial approach where all employees are aware of and responsible for the financial health of the organization.
Flowers Creamery LLC, Lynnville, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Flowers Creamery will purchase an electric cheese grater, smoker oven, and vacuum sealer to offer smoked cheese and shredded cheese in sealed plastic bags.
Nash Family Creamery, Chapel Hill, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Nash Family Farm will pay for custom printing of new containers to begin selling ice cream to wholesale and retail customers.
Rafting Goat Dairy, Old Fort, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Rafting Goat Dairy will purchase a vat pasteurizer and cheese press drain table to expand capacity by three times and allow for production of aged cheeses.
Shop Springs Creamery LLC, Lebanon, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Shop Springs Creamery will increase processing capacity of an existing on-farm ice cream facility by purchasing a 24qt. batch freezer.
Sweetwater Valley Farm, Philadelphia, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Sweetwater Valley Farm will purchase shredding equipment and a heating/mixing vessel to process cheese, cheese spreads, and flavored butters.
Windy Goat Farm LLC., Fayetteville, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Windy Goat Farm will add milk processing capacity with the purchase of a 15-gallon vat pasteurizer, digital indicating thermometers, a bottling machine, an industrial chiller, and packing supplies.
Benjamine Ray Seaton, Greenville, TN | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Benjamine Ray Seaton hired a consultant to conduct a feasibility study exploring the possibilities of processing bottled milk, cheese, ice cream, and butter. The study included the assessment of economic, market, technical, financial, and management feasibility.
Brush Creek Swiss Farms, Siler City, NC | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Brush Creek Swiss Farms conducted a feasibility study on benefits of on-farm processing to determine the best opportunity value-added product and the best market and distribution channels for the selected product.
White Rock Farms, LLC., Peachland, NC | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: White Rock Farms used funds create a business plan, marketing plan, and plant layout for a proposed milk processing business to survey options for product offerings, determine best market avenues in the surrounding area, and ensure that the new facility will be compliant with federal and state regulations.
Boxcarr Handmade Cheese, LLC., Cedar Grove, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Boxcarr Handmade Cheese raised their existing pasteurizer and purchased a variety of equipment including a new milk pump, wash station, cheese cutters and molds, and packaging materials to expand and diversify their line of dairy products.
Buffalo Creek Farm & Creamery, LLC., Germantown, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Buffalo Creek Farm purchased a batch freezer and blast cheese to begin manufacturing goat’s milk ice cream in order increase farm profits and increase labor efficiency to offset a drop in sales seen in 2020 and increased raw material costs.
Chapel Hill Creamery, Chapel Hill, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Chapel Hill Creamery launched a mozzarella initiative using milk purchased by another small NC dairy operation. Grant funds were used for equipment, packaging supplies, and sales and marketing support necessary to launch the project.
Grass Roots Farm & Dairy, LLC, Marshall, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Grass Roots purchased a vat pasteurizer, drain table with cheese presses and outdoor walk-in freezers to increase efficiency, production, and sales.
Harmony Lane Farm and Creamery, LLC., Smithville, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Harmony Lane purchased equipment to increase efficiency across soap, ice cream, and cheese product lines, including soap molds, ingredient tanks, a counter-top batch freezer, and a vat pasteurizer.
Harvest Moon Farm, LLC., Crestwood, KY | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Harvest Moon purchased a boiler, walk-in cooler, cream separator, bottler, cheese cutter, and trial packaging to begin production of yogurt and ice cream for sales of milk direct to the consumer.
Holly Grove Farms Inc., Goldsboro, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Holly Groves Farms purchased a roll stock machine, stuffer, and packaging materials to process goat cheese to expand into retail sales.
Homeland Creamery, LLC., Julian, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Homeland Creamery purchased a continuous ice cream machine and custom walk-in freezer to meet increased demands and promote local dairies and farm-to-table customers.
Horse Creek Farms, Chuckey, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Horse Creek Farms purchased an ice cream freezer, walk-in cooler and freezer, worktable, and other necessary equipment to develop an on-farm creamery.
JR Chaney Bottling Co., Franklin, KY | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: JR Chaney Bottling Co. purchased a cream separator, portable cream tank, and COP vat to expand production to offer heavy cream and fat free milk, as well as to improve cost efficiency by using their own cream in ice cream products.
Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese, Austin, KY | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese purchased a shredder/slicer to expand into ready-to-serve cheese for customer convenience and into restaurants by reducing the amount of cheese preparation necessary.
Looking Glass Creamery, Columbus, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Looking Glass Creamery purchased an ice cream hardening cabinet and display freezer to include ice cream production to their facilities and also purchased new packaging for ice cream products.
Maid-N-Meadows, LLC., Glasgow, KY | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Maid-N-Meadows purchased a cheese vat with chart recorder, leak detect valve, and bulk tank agitator to increase retail offerings including soft cheeses and blended cow and sheep hard cheeses.
Nash Family Creamery, Chapel Hill, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Nash Family Creamery expanded their current chiller capacity, lease a delivery freezer trailer, and purchase a walk-in cooler to allow for greater sales out of the creamery’s retail store and market to area retailers, restaurants and cheese shops.
Ran-Lew Dairy, Snow Camp, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Ran-Lew Dairy purchased equipment to implement a facility to develop a yogurt product to fill a gap in the fluid market to increase and diversity profitability of Ran-Lew Dairy and other small scale-dairies, while also encouraging use of regional milk production.
Rowlett’s Milkhouse Creamery, LLC., Campbellsburg, KY | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Rowlett’s Milkhouse Creamery purchased and installed larger ice cream production equipment such as an ice cream batch freezer and large capacity walk in freezer.
Sequatchie Cove Creamery, Sequatchie, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Sequatchie Cove improved processing efficiency and food safety, reduce production costs, and expand cheese production by obtaining a new cheese vat, draining table, and molds.
Simply Natural Creamery, Ayden, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Simply Natural Creamery launched a line of cheese curds and cheddar cheese of an array of flavors made possible by acquiring a cheese vat and vat control, strainer, vertical cheese press, vacuum packaging machine, and other necessary processing equipment.
Sweetwater Valley Farrm, Inc, Philadelphia, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Sweetwater Valley Farm purchased a drain table, vacuum packaging machine, and shrink tunnel to expand production and distribution of their cheese throughout the Southeast while also reducing milk cost, decreasing cheese production costs, and increasing efficiency.
Wildcat Mountain Cheese, LLC, Bernstadt, KY | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Wildcat Mountain Cheese purchased cheese processing equipment such as a shredder, shrink wrap system, multiwire cutter, and dishwasher to expand retail and wholesale sales with new sizing options.
Blue Ribbon Dairy, LLC., Tallassee, AL | Award: $300,000
Project Summary: Blue Ribbon Dairy invested SDBII funds in equipment to expand their existing dairy plant. Purchased equipment included a 500-gallon vat pasteurizer, cream separator, heat exchanger/plate cooler, two holding tanks, one bulk tank, six industrial milk pumps, bottle conveyor, transfer table, stainless steel piping to connect the new equipment, and a rotary jug filler with capping system.
Cruze Farm, LLC., Knoxville, TN | Award: $55,000
Project Summary: Cruze Farm purchased a new labeler and conveyer and installed a new 110v circuit with a wash down duty outlet box.
French Broad Creamery, LLC., Leicester, NC | Award: $100,486
Project Summary: French Broad Creamery purchased a 100-gallon vat pasteurizer with accessories to process cheese, as well as air handling equipment and shelving for aged cheese and brand developmental services to aid in the marketing of their product.
Hickory Hill Milk, LLC., Edgefield, SC | Award: $209,937
Project Summary: Hickory Hill Milk purchased a bottle filler and capper, labelers, and broiler to accommodate milk processing to increase output while reducing labor costs.
Milky Way Jersey Farm, Inc., Starr, SC | Award: $300,000
Project Summary: Milky Way Jersey Farm purchased a cream separator, butter churn, digital scale, platform scale, worktables, milk sampling and testing, and other equipment and ingredients to expand its product offerings to include butter and cream.
Nance Farm Creamery, McConnells, SC | Award: $128,340
Project Summary: Nance Farm Creamery expanded its existing bottling operation by purchasing a 200,000 BTU boiler, bottle conveyor, bottle filler/capper, 100-gallon vat pasteurizer, walk-in cooler, and cooling tank.
Old Stone Creamery, Spring Hill, TN | Award: $218,530
Project Summary: Old Stone Creamery purchased a milk transfer pump, CIP and COP wash system, vat pasteurizer, vat strainer, coolers, a chiller, and other necessary equipment to construct a cream cheese centered production facility based on a previous feasibility study.
Quesos Vaca Negra, Inc., Puerto Rico | Award: $300,000
Project Summary: Quesos Vaca Negras purchased a filler and capper, bottle conveyor, shelving for product storage, consultation services, training on new equipment and social media marketing, and product development for new yogurt recipes to update their filler line for drinkable yogurt.
Ran-Lew Dairy, Snow Camp, NC | Award: $20,000
Project Summary: Ran-Lew Dairy obtained legal assistance for succession planning regarding the farm and dairy plant.
Riverbend Creamery, LLC., Lincolnton, NC | Award: $292,418
Project Summary: Riverbend Creamery purchased a continuous freezer, reconditioned freezer skid, ingredient feeder, bulk tank and other necessary equipment, as well as training on equipment, to expand retail ice cream operation into a wholesale-oriented operation.
Sequatchie Cove Creamery, Sequatchie, TN | Award: $299,526
Project Summary: Sequatchie Cove Creamery purchased a 2000-gallon bulk tank and transport tank to increase milk purchasing for cheesemaking and specific cheesemaking equipment such as a blue cheese piercer, brine tank, and brushing machine. The inventory management system software was also updated to use a barcode scanner and printer.
Simply Natural Dairy Farms, LLC., Ayden, NC | Award: $106,234
Project Summary: Simply Natural purchased an Admix Fastfeed system, a ripple pump, and a walk-in freezer to expand their ice cream processing by improving operating efficiencies and lowering processing costs.
Thomas E. Stanley & Sons, Inc., Ashland, VA | Award: $30,000
Project Summary: Thomas E. Stanley & Sons performed a feasibility study to determine the potential value that could be added through sales of value-added dairy products and to understand the overall value in the local market.
Venture Milk, LLC., Slocomb, AL | Award: $292,910
Project Summary: Venture Milk purchased a milk silo tank, chiller, wash sink, bottle spacer, somatic cell counter, and other equipment to expand the receiving and processing capacity of Venture Milk.
Alliance Group., Trenton & Branford, FL | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Alliance Grazing Group will purchase and install the Piper AccuStream system at their two farm locations to enhance labor efficiency and reduce environmental impact by allowing them to remotely manage milk transfer into the tanker.
Blue Ribbon Dairy, LLC, Tallassee, AL | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Blue Ribbon Dairy will purchase a DeLaval robotic milking system, feed bin and auger system, and smart selection gates to improve animal health, well-being, and performance.
Bowmont Dairy Farm Inc., Leicester, NC | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Bowmount Dairy Farm will purchase GEA CowScout wearable technology for all adult cows to provide improved monitoring of animal health, wellbeing, and performance and enhanced labor efficiency.
Harrison Dairy, Inc., Loudon, TN | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Harrison Dairy will purchase a DeLaval Robotic Teat Sprayer to be used in a new robotic milking parlor to improve cow health and reduce labor costs.
Hillcrest Farms, Inc., Dearing, GA | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Hillcrest Farms will purchase a Smart Gate system and Feed Refresher for use in their pre-existing robotic parlor to improve milk production and cow comfort, reduce labor costs, and increase farm profitability, while also improving feed uptake by making fresh feed more palatable and readily available.
Home Place Dairy, Inc., Dayton, VA | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Home Place Dairy will purchase a Lely robotic milking system to enhance farm efficiency and decrease their dependence on labor.
Gaskins Farms, Columbia, KY | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Gaskin Farms will purchase necessary equipment to construct a new parlor and renovate their existing freestall barn to improve cow comfort and health and enhance labor efficiency.
Nash Family Farms LLC., Chapel Hill, TN | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Nash Family Farms will purchase Genex wearable technology to improve animal health, enhance labor efficiency, and reduce energy costs and environmental impact.
Nickerson Cattle Company LLC., Zolfo Springs, FL | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Nickerson Cattle Company will purchase automatic take off units and milk meters, as well as a herd activity monitoring system with activity collars and readers to improve cow health and efficiency.
Shane Roy, Russel Springs| Award: Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Shane Roy will purchase GEA milk meters and automatic takeoff to modernize their parlor and improve milk harvest, as well as wearable technology to improve data retrieval and reproductive efficiency.
John Sparkman, Sparta, TN | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: John Sparkman will purchase a SCR cow manager system, new milk meters, and a sort gate to improve animal well-being and performance, enhance labor efficiency, and improve farm goals, profitability and sustainability.
Walnut Ridge Dairy, Peterstown, WV | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Walnut Ridge Dairy will purchase AfiMilk milk meters, AfiCollar cow monitoring system, and a cow brush for the freestall barn to ultimately improve animal performance and improve high quality milk production.
Watauga Valley Farms, Elizabethton, TN | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Watauga Valley Farms will replace a pre-existing robotic milker to increase milk output by allowing for additional cows and improve cow health and milk quality through more efficient cleaning protocols.
Darrell Wright, Franklinville, NC | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Darrell Wright will purchase a Milktaxi to allow for more precise and ergonomic feeding of calves and improved calf growth and health.
Barham Jersey Farm, Calhoun, TN | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Barham Jersey Farm will purchase new waterbeds and a replacement vacuum pump to increase milk production and decrease electrical costs.
Boxcarr Handmade Cheese LLC, Cedar Grove, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Boxcarr will purchase the milking units, head stantions, a SonoFarm ultrasound, manure spreader, and tractor gappler to improve efficiency and goat welfare.
Bruce Willis Dairy, Cedar Grove, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Bruce Willis Dairy will purchase a stainless steel low line and receiver, as well as automatic takeoffs and vacuum pump to allow employees to be more efficient with their time when in the parlor, ultimately improving herd health and performance and decreasing energy bills.
Brush Creek Swiss Farms, Siler City, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Brush Creek will purchase headlocks, concrete feed troughs, and a cover crop roller to improve the heifer rearing environment, decrease the average age at first calving, and decrease soil erosion.
Carmichael Dairy, LLC., Riceville, TN | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Carmichael Dairy will purchase a soaker system and waterbeds to reduce heat stress and improve cow comfort in their newly purchased second farm.
James Cowherd and Son Dairy, Campbellsville, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: James Cowherd and Son will purchase a forage chopper, two forage heads, TMR mixer, and solid manure spreader to help advance the dairy in overall sustainability.
Crawley’s Valley View Farms LLC, Gravette, AR | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Crawley’s Valley View Farms will purchase fans, curtain system, thermostats, cow mats, and lighting to reduce heat stress and improve cow comfort, as well as a vacuum pump and heat exchanger for more efficient handling of milk and a rotary tiller for compost bedding to improve udder health.
Davis Brothers Dairy, Philadelphia, TN | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Davis Brothers Dairy will purchase a new milk tank and pasteurizer to reduce energy costs and improve labor efficiency and milk storage.
Ferguson & Ferguson Farm LLC., Clyde, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Ferguson & Ferguson will purchase a larger milk tank with cooling unites to decrease on energy and freight costs, as well as mitigate weather-related risks involving delayed pick ups.
Flowers Creamery, LLC., Ethridge, TN | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Flower’s Creamery will purchase an automatic feed pusher and automatic calf feeder to improve cow and calf welfare and labor efficiency.
Godfrey Dairy Farms, Inc., Madison, GA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Godfrey Dairy Farm will upgrade an existing glycol chiller and condensers and will switch to electronic valves on the compressors to improve sustainability and milk quality, and will also purchase a new receiver to provide a reservoir to raw milk prior travelling to the cooler plate.
Green Hollow Farms, Park City, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Rickey Nuckols will purchase a solid manure spreader to improve environmental impacts and labor efficiency.
Hickory Hill Milk, LLC., Edgefield, SC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Hickory Hill Milk will purchase health monitoring technology, a silage loader, feed pusher, and wash sprayer to improve herd health and labor efficiency.
Huffard Dairy Farms, LLC., Crockett, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Huffard Dairy will install fans and purchase a new bulk tank, foam mattresses, and water troughs to improve milk storage and cow comfort.
Jamestowne Dairy, LLC., Letart, WV | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Jamestowne Dairy will install a new raw bulk tank, cooling and washing systems, and plate cooler to improve milk harvest and cooling capacity.
Jeffrey Core, Salvisa, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Jeffrey Core will purchase a vertical manure spreader to improve cow comfort, environmental sustainability, forage quality, and profitability.
Tester Dairy Farm, Zionsville, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Tester Dairy Farm will purchase and install headlocks and self-latching gates, a Dairy Bedded Pack Composter and Bottom Bedder, and other equipment necessary to ensure a functional environment for cow comfort and cleanliness.
Joe Bertram, Glasgow, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Joe Bertram will purchase a manure spreader to reduce their carbon footprint and labor needs.
Keith Long, Glasgow, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Keith Long will purchase a solid separator and necessary accessories to improve improve cleanliness in housing environments and in turn, improve cow health.
G Kyle Leonard, Tavern, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: G Kyle Leonard will purchase a new milk cooler and accessories to reduce transportation costs, as well as installing a water treatment system to mitigate risks of water contamination in regard to milk storage.
Leeco Dairy, LLC, Leesburg, GA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Leeco Dairy will apply insulation on low roofline barns to reduce impacts of heat stress and seasonal milk production swings, and improve farm sustainability by reducing water usage by soaker lines and reducing electricity by cooling fans.
Milky Way Jersey Farm, Inc., Starr, SC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Milky Way Jersey Farm with use the grant award to offset the costs associated with installing a new ventilation system in the freestall and feeding barns to improve airflow and ultimately, increase milk production, improve fertility, and reduce energy expenses.
Motley Dairy, Inc., Chatham, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Motley Dairy will purchase a manure agitator, flush pump, and other necessary equipment to improve reproductive performance of cows and heifers and reduce soil erosion in heifer rearing locations, while also generating a more efficient process for fertilizing their fields.
Mountain View Dairy, Callaway, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Mountain View Dairy will purchase a TMR mixer to improve feed management and labor efficiency.
Mountain View Farm Products, LLC., Fairfield, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Mountain View Farm will purchase condensing unites, a vertical wash vat, panel fans, curtains, and miscellaneous electrical materials to reduce heat stress impacts, improve animal welfare and housing, and increasing storage capacity.
North Point Farm, Inc., Defiance, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: North Point Farm will purchase and install fans over compost bedded packs housing lactating dairy cows to increase airflow over lying and ruminating animals to minimize heat stress effects, increase dry matter intake and milk production, improve animal environments, and assist in manure management.
Ocoee Creamery, Old Fort, TN | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Ocoee Creamery will purchase a new raw milk storage tank, pipeline milking system, and rapid release milking stachion to improve milk production and storage capacity.
Paulson Family Farm LLC., Republic, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Paulson Family Farm will purchase two Lely robotic feed pushers to increase dry matter intake in lactating and dry cows, improve labor efficiency, and eliminate skid steer use in the barn.
Perk Farm Organic Dairy, Frankford, WV | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Perk Farm will purchase and install a manure screw press system to allow for more efficiency manure management, storage, and composting, as well as improved cow comfort in their freestall barn.
Ran-Lew Dairy, Snow Camp, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Ran-Lew Dairy will purchase and install two bulk tanks to improve raw milk storage capacity, transportation efficiency, and long-term viability of the operation.
Reverence Farms LLC., Graham, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Reverence Farms will purchase waterers, ventilation fans and misters, and additional parlor stalls and milking units to expand cow capacity to meet demands of newly acquired creamery.
Rivergate Dairy Farm, Mendota, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Rivergate Dairy Farm will purchase and install a crowd gate and sort gate to allow for production explanation, as well as to improve animal welfare and breeding succession.
Rocky Creek Dairy, Inc., Olin, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Rocky Creek Dairy will purchase a new bushel grain bin to expand on-farm storage of grain and reduce feed costs.
Ross Dairy Inc., Waynesville, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Ross Dairy will purchase and install crowd gates, free stall loops, and mattresses to improve cow comfort and increase flow efficiency to the milking parlor.
Robert and Freda Rutrough, Rocky Mount, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Robert and Freda Rutrough will purchase four alley scrapers in their pre-existing freestall barn to enhance waste and manure management and save on labor and fuel costs, and a conveyor feed system to mitigate risks of bringing outside equipment into cattle housing areas such as stress and injuries.
Satterwhite Farms, Newberry, SC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Satterwhite Farms will purchase and install truckload scales to improve feed and forage management, nutrient application rate, and overall farm profitability by weighing exact amounts of feed being used and milk being shipped out.
Stephenson Farms, LLC., Chester, SC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Stephenson Farms will purchase dividers, neck rails, mattresses, water troughs and other equipment to expand their operation.
Steven Harley Wiley, Summer Shade, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Steven Harley Wiley will purchase and install waterbeds, fans, freestall loops, and gate systems to improve cow comfort and milk yield, while also reducing SCC during heat stress. The new equipment will match pre-existing equipment in the other half of the barn and award was requested based on benefits seen in that section of the barn.
David Alexander Strader Jr, Cave City, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: David Alexander Strader Jr. will purchase parlor upgrades including, stanchions, automatic take-off units, milk meters, pulsators, and crowd and sort gates to improve milk harvest and labor efficiency, as well as improve udder health and individual cow data collection and management.
T&K Dairy, Summer Shade, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: T&K Dairy will purchase and install fans and sprinkler systems to reduce the impact of heat stress and seasonal milk production.
Three Creeks LLC., Waycross, GA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Three Creeks will purchase and install freestall loops and breeze fans to improve cattle health and behavior, decrease heat stress effects, and improve environmental stewardship.
W & R Farms, LLC., Waynesboro, GA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: W and R Farms will purchase shade cloths, fans, sprinkler systems, and water troughs to upgrade dry and lactating cow housing and the milking parlor and holding pen to reduce the impact of heat stress and seasonal milk production swings.
Waller Dairy, Sugar Grove, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Waller Dairy will upgrade the current milking parlor from a double four to a double eight parlor to decrease physical labor by one-third, improve labor efficiency, and reducing physiological stress to prove an opportunity for the family’s children to continue a successful dairy operation in the future.
WRF Dairy, LLC., Weyers Cave, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: WRF Dairy will purchase fans and ventilation equipment to improve air flow through their bedded pack barn to reduce heat stress and improve waste management.
Ran-Lew Dairy, Snow Camp, NC | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Ran-Lew will engage industry experts to evaluate the feasibility of a new direct-to-consumer enterprise related to the sale of ice cream. The project will entail the development of a product-specific business plan and marketing resources, and ensure there are proper legal resources in place to continue to scale.
Boxcarr Handmade Cheese LLC., Cedar Grove, NC | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Boxcarr Handmade Cheese is seeking professional experience and judgment to improve the company’s existing food safety plan.
White Rock Farms, LLC., Peachland, NC | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: White Rock Farms will create a comprehensive plan for the future of ownership interest in White Rock Farms. The plan will communicate clearly what is expected of current and future partners.
Harrison Dairy, Inc., Loudon, TN | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Harrison Dairy will utilize grant funds to help finance succession planning for their business from one generation of family members to the next.
Carmichael Dairy, LLC., Riceville, TN | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Carmichael Dairy will use grant funds to develop a feasibility study for a milk processing venture.
Brush Creek Swiss Farms, Siler City, NC | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Brush Creek Swiss Farm is a third-generation dairy farm SDBII funds will be used to transition the dairy business to a new generation of owners.
Crawley’s Valley View Farms, LLC., Gravette, AR | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Crawley Valley View Farms will use grant funds to explore the feasibility of launching an on-farm creamery to process their milk into ice cream and bottled milk.
Rowley Farms, Inc., Foxworth, MS | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Rowley Farms will use SDBII grant funds to hire business planning professionals to develop a feasibility study for launching a value-added, organic dairy processing operation on the farm.
Sequatchie Cove Creamery, Sequatchie, TN | Dairy Business Planning Grant
Project Summary: Sequatchie Cove Creamery will utilize funds to explore the most efficient plant layout for a cheese facility.
Nash Family Creamery, Chapel Hill, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Nash Family Creamery will purchase two 10-gallon ice cream batch freezers to increase the amount of locally produced ice cream products to their region. The increased production capacity will allow for further product development of products such as ice cream sandwiches and allow the business to keep up with demand for ice cream from more retail locations.
Sugar and Snow Gelato, Ashville, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Sugar and Snow Gelato will purchase of a vat pasteurizer to make ice cream base. The business will also purchase gelato and ice cream batch freezers, an ice cream hardening freezer.
Simply Natural Creamery, Ayden, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Simply Natural Creamery will use grant funds to replace its existing storage space with 1,683 square feet of more efficient cold storage space. This project will include the purchase and installation of movable insulated panels, compressors, and movable storage racks. These improvements will result in lower energy costs and improve inventory management and product safety for Simply Natural’s milk and ice cream products.
Southern Swiss Dairy, LLC., Waynesboro, GA | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Southern Swiss Dairy will make efficiency updates to existing dairy processing lines for both bottling milk and making butter, as well as to develop higher value dairy products, including kefir and drinkable yogurt. This project will also allow the business to begin bottling half-pint containers for foodservice and cafeteria customers.
Richlands Creamery, Blackstone, VA | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Richlands Creamery will use grant funds to automate the process of labeling bottles on the business’ milk bottling line which are currently hand-labeled.
Legacy Dairy, LLC., Cave City, KY | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Legacy Dairy will use grant funds to make processes more efficient and increase the ability to bottle milk by purchasing and utilizing an automatic bottling system.
Mountain Fresh Creamery, LLC., Clermont, GA | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Mountain Fresh Creamery will purchase a new milk bottle filler that will enable the dairy to become more efficient in the bottling process and also expand capabilities for expanding product offerings.
Hickory Hill Milk, LLC., Edgefield, SC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Hickory Hill Milk will use grant funds to facilitate greater efficiencies in their bagged milk line which serves institutions milk purchasers.
Providence Farmstead, LLC., Otto, NC | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Hickory Hill Milk will use grant funds to facilitate greater efficiencies in their bagged milk line which serves institutions milk purchasers.
Providence Farmstead, LLC., Liberty, KY | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Goode’s Riverside Creamery will purchase equipment to begin producing fluid bottled milk, ice cream, and butter.
Hawthorne Creek Creamery, LLC., Hawthorne, FL | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Hawthorne Creek Creamery will use SDBII funds to facilitate diversification in its current product line by enhancing its existing packaging and item sizing. Currently, cheese in wheel form is sold directly to food service while cut/wrap items are packaged offsite by a third party distributor. The business will purchase equipment to bring the cut/wrap process in-house which will lower the price point for its products and increase sales channels.
Irvey’s Ice Cream Company, Knoxville, TN | Specialty Processing Equipment Grant
Project Summary: Irvey’s Ice Cream Company will use grant funds to purchase a popsicle packaging machine.
Brush Creek Swiss Farms, Siler City, NC | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Brush Creek Swiss Farm will purchase CowManager tags for their mature cow herd and expand use of the system to their breeding age heifers. An ultrasound system will be purchased to facilitate pregnancy checks.
Brent Baker, Columbia, KY | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Brent Baker will replace their existing corn planter with a new larger precision-based planter to increase yield with upgraded technology and seed savings due to improved accuracy.
Cool Lawn LLC., Bealeton, VA | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Cool Lawn Farm will utilize smart technologies in a recently built barn to improve cow comfort. Features such as automated temperature controls, controlling wind speed, sprinklers, and curtains, will ensure optimal conditions for livestock. Additionally, variable speed fans, photocell lighting, and automatic scrapers will maximize energy efficiency and contribute to significant savings on electric costs.
Cruze Farm, Knoxville, TN | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Cruze Dairy Farm will purchase automatic milk machine take-offs and milk meters with conductivity monitoring. The farm will also purchase the accompanying herd management software and ID systems to track daily milk weight and quality data.
Echo Valley Dairy Farm, New Market, TN | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Echo Valley Dairy Farm will install milk meters, ID tags, and cow tracking software to monitor milk quality and cow health, including heat detection.
Fairdale Farm, LLC., Owenton, KY | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Fairdale Farm will receive financial assistance to install an automatic robotic milking system.
Ferguson & Ferguson Farm, LLC., Clyde, NC | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Ferguson & Ferguson Farm will install milk metering and a cow ID system which will greatly improve management of the farm’s dairy herd.
Highland Dairy Farm, L.P., Glade Spring, VA | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Highland Dairy Farm will purchase Behavior Analysis (BA) Tags to improve animal health and performance, increase labor efficiency, and reduce stress.
Interstate Dairy LLC., Mt. Crawford, VA | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Interstate Dairy will make improvements to the farm’s milking parlor including milk metering and an automated cow sort gate system. They will also purchase robots to automate the manure management system in their barn.
KooBa Dairy, Inc., Roseboro, NC | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: KooBa Dairy will upgrade their herd management system from a leg mounted system to a neck mounted system. This advanced neck sensor system will provide new, valuable insights on rumination, eating time and a combination of those two metrics.
Milky Way Jersey Farm, Inc., Starr, SC | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Milky Way Jersey Farm will install new automatic calf feeders which will utilize ear transponders.
Waller Farms Inc., Hurt, VA | Precision Technology & Management Grant
Project Summary: Waller Farms will purchase a precision planting system to install on the farm’s current corn planter and tractor. The system will improve crop yield.
Celebrity Dairy LLC., Siler City, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Celebrity Dairy will add fans and lighting to the barn for their herd of dairy goats. They will also reconfigure their milking parlor to add additional stanchions, install a pipeline milking system, bulk tank, and automatic wash controller.
Chaney’s Dairy Barn, Bowling Green, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Chaney’s Dairy Barn will add new curtains to the operation’s bedded pack barn to improve ventilation and drying of the bedding while also shading cattle and reducing heat stress. They will also add headlocks to the dry cow and heifer barn to facilitate vaccination and breeding.
Coral Hill Dairy Farm LLC., Glasgow, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Coral Hill Dairy Farm will purchase a colostrum pasteurization system to improve lifelong health outcomes for calves.
Cresthaven Farms Inc., Galax, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Cresthaven Farms will install variable speed fans in the farm’s bedded pack barn and calving barn.
Crist Dairy Farm, Edmonton, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Crist Dairy Farm will purchase a manure wagon with an injection system and a second injection system to go on an existing manure wagon.
Eaker Dairy Inc., Cherryville, NC | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Eaker Dairy will buy a new manure solid separator with pump and agitator to improve the operation’s manure management system. The farm will also purchase new equipment to expedite spreading bedding in the farm’s freestall barn.
Embry’s Longview Farms, Inc., Leitchfield, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Embry’s Longview Farms will replace a two-row chopper with a new three-row chopper with a corn head with kernel processor and a hay head.
H and H Dairy Inc., Columbia, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: H and H Dairy will improve cow comfort by replacing fans, stall loops, and cow brushes in the operation’s freestall barn.
Hammock Dairy Inc., Chatham, VA | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Hammock Dairy will replace freestall loops to improve housing conditions and maximize the health and safety of both the cows and the farm’s employees.
Harrison Dairy Inc., Loudon, TN | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Harrison Dairy will utilize grant funds to purchase a Programmable Logic Controller to control the farm’s milking parlor. They will also add a new cooling system for milk.
Jeffrey Core, Salvisa, KY | Farm Infrastructure Improvement Grant
Project Summary: Jeffrey Core will purchase a new hay baler wrapper combo to improve forage quality and reduce labor costs.
In addition to the grant funding opportunities made available through the program, SDBII provides dairy businesses in the Southeast with a variety of free and low-cost instructional resources. These include an annual value-added dairy conference, a variety of workshops offering advice and insights on topics such as marketing, business plan development, regulations and more. The program helps ensure that dairy industry professionals have the tools and information that they need to make informed decisions as they plan for growth.
Anyone who has questions about the program should reach out to project leader and UT Extension Dairy Specialist Liz Eckelkamp at eeckelka@utk.edu or UT Dairy Extension Specialists Shep Stearns at sstearn1@utk.edu and Ansley Roper at aroper2@utk.edu.
