Grant recipients are planning to use the funds to install new waterbeds and mattresses, implement activity monitoring heat detection systems, and add fans in maternity barns. Several producers also plan to improve efficiency by installing feed tracking software, investing in TMR mixers, building new posts and gating, and re-grooving free stalls and alleys.
During the second round of funding, a total of 7,397 Pennsylvania dairy cows will be impacted by the improvement projects. Grant recipients’ herd sizes range from 50 to 1,300 cows.
Dairy producers who received the grants represent a 17 counties — Beaver, Berks, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Chester, Cumberland, Fayette, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lancaster, Mifflin, Perry, Schuylkill, Somerset, Union and Wayne.
Grant recipients were selected by a committee of industry professionals and will receive a 50% match, up to a maximum matching level of $5,000 according to the reports published in lancasterfarming.com.
The Center hopes to offer another round of grants in March.
