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 and diversify through the production of value-added dairy products.
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, $227,000 was distributed to dairy businesses throughout 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.
According to Dr. Liz Eckelkamp who heads up the SDBII program noted “These grants will help advance the creation of farmstead dairy products, develop new niches for our TN dairy producers, and generate new knowledge and direction for emerging dairy processors. The SDBII is committed to the continued support of our dairy producers and our dairy industry.”
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.”
2021 DBII Tennessee grant recipients, listed alphabetically by company name, are:
Cruze Farm, Knoxville, TN | Award: $25,000
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.
Flowers Creamery LLC, Lynnville, TN | Award: $25,000
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.
Horse Creek Farms, Chuckey, TN | Award: $25,000
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.
Nash Family Creamery, Chapel Hill, TN | Award: $6,838
Project Summary: Nash Family Farm will pay for custom printing of new containers to begin selling ice cream to wholesale and retail customers.
Purtle/Cleburne Jersey Farm, Spring Hill, TN | Award: $20,758
Project Summary: Purtle/Cleburne Jersey Farm will conduct a feasibility study to explore adding the capacity to produce value-added dairy products on farm.
Rafting Goat Dairy, Old Fort, TN | Award: $19,196
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.
Robin’s Nest Farm Creamery, Nunnelly, TN | Award: $14,000
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 | Award: $18,224
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.
Shop Springs Creamery LLC, Lebanon, TN | Award: $25,000
Project Summary: Shop Springs Creamery LLC will increase processing capacity of an existing on-farm ice cream facility by purchasing a 24qt. batch freezer.
Sweetwater Valley Farm, Philadelphia, TN | Award: $25,000
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 | Award: $22,984
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.
