Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI)

The Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program provides financial assistance to small- to medium-sized dairy operations that participate in the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.

Am I eligible to apply?

You must:

• Be the principal operator of a Minnesota dairy cow operation that produced less than 16,000,000 pounds (160,000 cwt) of milk in 2022, and
• Have signed up for DMC program coverage during the enrollment period of January 12, 2026, to February 26, 2026.

How do I apply?

We encourage you to apply online using our grants management system. Online applications are due by 5 p.m. Central Time (CT) on Thursday, March 19, 2026.

• If you're a new user, you need to create an account first. Use this how-to guide (PDF) to help set up your account.
• After logging in, select "Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI)."
• Once your application is submitted, you'll receive a confirmation email. If you don't get this email, contact us at dairi.mda@state.mn.us.

If you can't use the online system, you may apply by paper (paper application coming soon). You can either:

• Email your completed application to dairi.mda@state.mn.us. We must receive your emailed application by March 19, 2026 at 5 p.m. CT.
• Mail your application to Minnesota Department of Agriculture, DAIRI, 625 Robert St N, Saint Paul, MN 55155. Mailed applications must be postmarked by March 13, 2026, and received by March 20, 2026.

Note:

• We must receive all parts of your application by the deadline to be considered.
• Emailed and mailed applications must include a signature or they won't be complete.
• We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

What do I need to include in my application?

• Completed application form with your signature and date, if applying through email or mail
• Statement(s) from your processor(s) that show quantity of milk produced between 1/1/2022 and 12/31/2022. Self-completed worksheets and sales records will generally not be accepted.
• Completed copy of your DMC enrollment form
• Completed IRS Form W-9

How much will I be paid?

We have $3 million available for the DAIRI program. After applications from all eligible producers are reviewed, we will establish a payment rate based on your first 50,000 cwt of production in 2022.

In the first DAIRI program, we had $8 million available, and producers received $0.18/cwt. We expect that the payment rate will be lower this time.

When and how will I get paid?

We will be reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate starting to issue payments one month after the application period closes. The timeline will depend on how many applications are received. If USDA extends the DMC enrollment period, we may also extend the DAIRI application period.

Most applicants will receive paper checks from Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB). You may sign-up through MMB to receive your payment through direct deposit by contacting their EFT Helpline at efthelpline.mmb@state.mn.us or 651-201-8106. Note that we are not able to assist with this process.

Q&A

Here are answers to some common questions about the DAIRI program.

If you have other questions, email dairi.mda@state.mn.us or call 651-201-6500. We strongly prefer that you email us with a clear description of the situation.

• What if there is a problem with my application?
  • The MDA will notify you via email or phone about missing information, errors in your application, or if your application is denied.
  • You have seven business days after you are notified or after the application period closes, whichever is later, to fix the problems.
  • If you don’t make the corrections, we won’t consider your application as received during the application period.
  • If your application is denied, you have seven days from the notice of denial to appeal the decision within.
• What if I did not begin dairy farming until after 2022?
  • Contact us to discuss options. We still encourage you to apply in case there are changes to the program.
• What if I did not sell my milk to a third party (e.g., milk is processed on the farm)?
  • Contact us to discuss options.
• What if there are multiple producers listed on my DMC enrollment form and each person needs a separate check?
  • Each person listed on the DMC enrollment form must submit their own DAIRI application, including application form, IRS Form W-9, copy of their DMC enrollment, and farm production records.
  • To determine each producer’s share of the farm’s total payments, we will use the percentages from the DMC enrollment form.
• What if there are multiple producers listed on my DCM enrollment form and we want our business entity to be paid (not each producer)?
  • The farm should only submit one DAIRI application. The IRS Form W-9 should be in the farm’s name and tax ID number.
• What if I sold milk to multiple processers in 2022?
  • You must include statements from all processers who you sold milk to in 2022.
• Am I eligible for DAIRI if I am a resident of another state but farm in Minnesota?
  • No, you are not eligible for the DAIRI program.
• Am I eligible for DAIRI if I farm in Minnesota but am a resident of a bordering state?
  • No, you are not eligible for the DAIRI program.
• What if I have another situation that isn’t addressed here?
  • Email us at dairi.mda@state.mn.us or call us at 651-201-6500. We prefer that you email us with a clear description of the situation.
• Is my DAIRI payment taxable?
  • Yes
• What if I produced more than 16,000,000 pounds of milk in 2022, but fewer than 16,000,000 pounds in 2021 or 2023?
  • Contact us to discuss options. We still encourage you to apply in case there are changes to the program.