Dairy Farm Investment Program: Step 1. What this program offers

Step 1. What this program offers

Intake period: Closed

The application intake period for the Dairy Farm Investment Program is closed.

The Dairy Farm Investment Program is a 6-year (beginning 2017-2018) $250-million program to help Canadian cow’s milk producers improve productivity through upgrades to their equipment.

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

Phase 1 of the Program is now closed. Phase 2 of the program provides funding assistance from April 1, 2020 until March 31, 2023. 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, 2023. Reimbursement to applicants will be made in 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 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, 2023.

For more information on DFIP Phase 2, refer to the Dairy Farm Investment Program: Phase 2 Applicant Guide.

What has changed from Phase 1?

During the delivery of Phase 1, applicants and their industry groups made a number of suggestions for the improvement of DFIP. These centered on reducing the burden of applying on dairy producers and further ensuring the fairness to all applicants. Several improvements have been made to Phase 2 of the program following feedback on Phase 1, including:

  • A cap of $100,000 has been set for all projects to allow more producers to participate;
  • A single stream of projects has been created covering projects investing in dairy production systems as well as projects involving a variety of different types of equipment;
  • A two-step application process has been created that starts with a basic Project Request. From there, projects will be selected at random until all of the Phase 2 funding has been allocated. Only those projects will require the completion of a Detailed Application. This will reduce the application burden on those applicants whose projects fall outside the available Phase 2 funding;
  • Applications can now be submitted online or by using a fillable PDF form. Those applications have been shortened from Phase 1.

Dairy Farm Investment Program Phase 2 Process

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  1. Read the DFIP Phase 2 Applicant Guide
  2. Check your eligibility
  3. Identify your equipment improvement needs that are eligible and their cost
  4. Submit a DFIP Project Request based on eligible equipment within the first window (five weeks)
  5. DFIP will randomly rank all Project Requests for funding
  6. You will be notified if your project is within the Phase 2 available funding
    1. If your project is within available funding for Phase 2, you will be asked to submit a Detailed Application
      • Complete and submit your Detailed Application within the second application window (four weeks, no exceptions)
      • Once Detailed Applications are received and assessed, applicants will receive contribution agreements for eligible costs
      • Once projects are completed, submit a claim for reimbursement with supporting documents
      • For completed projects, you will be asked to report on your productivity gains
    2. If your project falls outside the immediately available funding, your project will be placed on a waiting list
      • Should funding become available for your project, you will be notified and asked to complete a Detailed Application
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