The Alberta dairy industry is open for business. Until March 31, Alberta Milk will be accepting applications to the New Entrant Assistance Program (NEAP).The program offers a quota loan at no cost to successful applicants that want to be dairy farmers anywhere in the province.
The program works by matching 2 kg of quota from Alberta Milk for every kg of quota purchased by the new entrant up to 25 kg per day at no cost. This loan translates to enough quota to milk about 20 to 25 additional cows. It gradually expires beginning in the eleventh year and reduced to zero at the end of year nineteen.
“Since 2011, there have been 17 new dairy farms that have started milking thanks to the New Entrants Assistance Program,” says Alberta Milk chairman Tom Kootstra. “That means long term benefits like more local jobs, more local milk, and more contributions to the rural economy. That’s something we’re really proud of.”
About the Program
- While using the program, new entrants can expand up to 100 kg per day of total quota holdings, or about 80 to 100 cows.
- The process to qualify for the program consists of submitting a two-year financial business plan, a 10-year implementation plan, a risk mitigation plan, and a signed conditional letter from the applicant’s financial institution agreeing to finance their operation.
- Applications will be accepted from January 1 to March 31, 2019.
- You do not need to join this program to become a dairy farmer in Alberta.
Alberta Milk is also still accepting applications for our Organic Entrants Assistance Program. Similar to the NEAP, the program is designed to encourage growth in organic dairy production in Alberta.
Source : Alberta agriculture and forestry