WASHINGTON, January 21, 2026—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is awarding more than $11 million in grant funding to support dairy businesses and producers through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program. The initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), released the following statement:

“IDFA expresses its deep appreciation to Secretary Rollins and Under Secretary Hoskins at USDA for awarding more than $11 million in grant funding to support dairy businesses and producers through the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program. This funding, to be managed by the outstanding personnel with DBI Centers at California State University, Fresno, the University of Tennessee, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, and the University of Wisconsin, will promote continued innovation in the dairy processing sector and will help industry members work together to address common challenges and create new market opportunities for healthy and nutritious dairy products.”

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Contact: press@idfa.org

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., represents the nation’s dairy manufacturing and marketing industry, which supports more than 3 million jobs that generate $198 billion in direct wages and $779 billion in overall economic impact. IDFA’s diverse membership ranges from multinational organizations to single-plant companies, from dairy companies and cooperatives to food retailers and suppliers, all on the cutting edge of innovation and sustainable business practices. Together, they represent most of the milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy ingredients produced and marketed in the United States and sold throughout the world. Delicious, safe and nutritious, dairy foods offer unparalleled health and consumer benefits to people of all ages.