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Dairy Farm Investment Program

Last updated: Dec. 19, 2018 

We wanted to make sure that all dairy producers are aware of this program and the upcoming deadlines to participate.

Be sure to share this with any dairy producers that you know.

Phase Two Recently Announced

The Dairy Farm Investment Program is a five-year $250-million program to help Canadian cow milk producers improve productivity through upgrades to their equipment.

It is intended to help dairy producers adapt to the anticipated impacts of the Canada–European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

Phase 2 of the program provides funding assistance from April 1, 2020 until March 31, 2022.

Applicants have the flexibility to seek funding for eligible activities that started on or after August 1, 2017. The project activities must be completed by March 31, 2022. Reimbursement to applicants will be made in 2020-21 and 2021-22 as projects are completed.

Based on the demand, the program will strive to support investments in all provinces – approximately in proportion to their share of the total national milk quota.

The program ends on March 31, 2022.

Applicants Must Be Canadian Licensed Milk Producers

Applicants must own a valid dairy license stating the production quota and be registered with a provincial milk marketing board.

Restrictions (Project parameters)

Approved eligible costs are reimbursed up to 50% to a maximum of $100,000 for all projects.

Eligible Activities

  • Hiring of external expertise (consultants) to assess how the dairy farm enterprise can improve efficiencies and productivity
  • Purchasing, shipping, and installing eligible equipment (that is barn equipment, commercial-off-the-shelf software and IT infrastructure)
  • Training to operate eligible equipment
  • Retrofits of current facilities within the existing barn footprint related to the installation and operation of eligible equipment

How to Apply for the Canadian Dairy Farm Investment Program?

  1. Submit a Project Request Form
  • Project Request Forms will be available on January 7, 2019.
  • There is only a 5-week window to submit a request.
  • Members may access the online form by registering through the new Dairy Farmer Investment Program Online System (DFIPOS)
  • Project Request Form will contain:
    • Basic applicant information, name, address, other contact information (phone numbers, etc.)
    • Dairy License and Production quota (Key to Application) – no license … no application
    • Type of equipment purchased
    • Expected costs of equipment
    • Other costs associated with the project (within the applicant guide parameters)
  • Project Requests will be accepted from January 7, 2019 to February 8, 2019.
  1. Projects will be randomly ranked for funding
  • All submitted projects will be ranked by AAFC through a computerized random process for potential funding based on Dairy Farm Investment Program (DFIP)’s allocated funding.
  • The random selection process will be overseen by an independent third party and use a recognized algorithm to perform the randomization.
  1. Complete and submit the Detailed Application within the second application window (four weeks)
  • Only those whose projects were selected at random and are within the available funding for Phase 2 will be asked to complete a Detailed Application.
  • A four-week period will be provided to submit the Detailed Applications.

How to Submit a Project Request for the Dairy Farm Investment Program

Phase 2 will use an online system (DFIPOS) as the primary method to submit Project Requests or Detailed Applications.


How to Submit a Project Request: Dairy Farm Investment Program Online System

(Source: Federal Government)