Closed
Dairy Direct Payment Program
Direct payments for eligible dairy producers
Last Update: May 28, 2026
Funding available
Varies by project
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
The program provides direct payments to eligible dairy producers based on milk quota. It supports supply-managed cow’s milk producers affected by recent international trade agreements, with a total of $1.2 billion available over six years.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- No objectives are currently available
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Timeline
- Closing date : March 31, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Sole proprietorship
- Non-financial cooperative
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Rural or Northern Residents
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Supply-managed cow’s milk producers.
Who is not eligible
- Producers of goat, sheep, or water buffalo milk.
- Applicants without a valid dairy license.
- Educational organizations without a valid dairy quota license.
- Research institutions without a valid dairy quota license.
Eligible expenses
There are eligible expenses for this grant. Eligible expenses include:
- Direct payments to eligible supply-managed cow’s milk producers
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Other dairy producers, such as goat, sheep, or water buffalo producers.
- Applicants without a valid dairy license.
- Educational organizations without a valid dairy quota license.
- Research institutions without a valid dairy quota license.
- Producers who no longer hold quota as of August 31, 2025.
Eligible geographic areas
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Quebec
- Ontario
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
- Alberta
- British Columbia
Processing and Agreement
- Registrations are reviewed after submission to verify that all required questions and declarations were completed correctly.
- The program may contact applicants for additional information if needed.
- Eligible producers receive payment from the Canadian Dairy Commission.
- Payments are non-repayable and are treated as income in the year received.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The 2023-24 payment allocation for each province is based on the percentage share of the national quota (P10), ensuring proportional distribution relative to milk production.
- This program is facilitated by the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC), which collaborates with provincial milk marketing boards to streamline the distribution of funds.
- Payments are calculated based on the licensed quota holders' percentage of provincial quota holdings.
- From 2019-23, the program has previously disbursed $1.75 billion under similar compensation schemes related to other trade agreements such as CETA and CPTPP.
- The intake period for the current funding year is closed; however, producers must register annually to qualify for payments.
Documents and links
Frequently Asked Questions about the Dairy Direct Payment Program Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Dairy Direct Payment Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Dairy Direct Payment Program?
The program provides direct payments to eligible dairy producers based on milk quota. It supports supply-managed cow’s milk producers affected by recent international trade agreements, with a total of $1.2 billion available over six years.
Who is eligible for the Dairy Direct Payment Program program?
To be eligible for the Dairy Direct Payment Program program, you must:
Supply-managed cow’s milk producer
Valid dairy quota license
Annual registration required
Who can I contact for more information about the Dairy Direct Payment Program?
You can contact Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC).
Where is the Dairy Direct Payment Program available?
The Dairy Direct Payment Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Dairy Direct Payment Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Dairy Direct Payment Program is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Dairy Direct Payment Program?
Dairy Direct Payment Program is funded by Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC)