Tenth Generation Dairy Farm Awarded $65,000 Implementation Grant

We are excited to share that Brigeen Farms in Turner, a 10th generation family owned and operated dairy, has been awarded a $65,000 Implementation Grant as part of MFT’s 2024 cycle. Brigeen Farms will use the funds to implement elements of a business plan to upgrade milking technology and infrastructure, improve water systems, and reduce operational costs to reach efficiencies of scale. As farmers Betsy and Bill Bullard put it: “The goal for the future is simple: to continue to evolve and position the farm in such a way that it continues to offer the same opportunities for future generations.”

To become eligible to apply for the grant, Brigeen Farms completed Farming for the Long Haul, MFT’s competitive two-year business planning program for experienced farmers designed to grow the long-term success and financial resilience of their businesses. Over the course of the program, they received technical assistance to analyze their value-added enterprise, and developed a multi-year business plan to increase their milk production and finance infrastructure improvements to address labor, time, and cost bottlenecks.

“The opportunity to learn from other successful Maine farm enterprise owners in workshop settings, as well as access targeted Technical Assistance funds for detailed business analyses has been extremely valuable as we chart the next steps for further modernization and improvement at Brigeen Farms. Implementation Grant funds are enabling project work in 2024 to continue making strides on improved viability and profitability for our 10th generation family farm,” said Betsy Bullard.

Over the past 25 years, Brigeen Farms has grown from 65 milking cows to a herd of 580 registered Holstein cows, plus more than 800 crop acres for feed production. While wholesale milk is the farm’s primary operation, selling 16.1 million pounds of milk in 2023 through the Dairy Farmers of America Cooperative, the farm has diversified to include Canty Cow Creamery, producing and selling premium frozen custard, and a small compost business.

Under Brigeen Farms’ multi-year business plan, their aim is to increase profitability and efficiencies of scale by growing their herd to 700 milking cows. By producing a higher volume of milk and investing in more efficient  infrastructure, the farm hopes to increase its income and reduce its operational costs over the long term.  

These investments include upgrades to the farm’s production capacity, and to the water supply and treatment systems that underpin the operation. To get their milk to market, refrigerated tankers visit the farm multiple times per week to collect the raw milk and transport it for processing. Increasing on-farm milk storage and improving physical access for tractor-trailer trucks will also help to reduce trucking fees, which are necessary costs of getting milk to market.

Currently, it takes the efforts of 11 full time people to run the operations at Brigeen Farms, including several long-term employees. But as labor costs continue to increase and the number of available and interested farmworkers in the area declines, a priority in the business plan is to attract and retain employees with more opportunities to specialize and leverage newer technologies. Through the Farming for the Long Haul program, they worked with a dairy expert on a financial analysis of a robotic, or voluntary, milking system to explore what such a transition might require. Through the process, they identified that the gradual introduction of a robotic milking system could help to address labor challenges, but would require upgrades to on-farm milk storage and handling, the power supply, as well as changes to the way the animals are housed, feed is stored, and deliveries are made.

With the Implementation Grant funding, Brigeen Farms plans to construct a new operational hub facility with increased milk storage that will help set the foundation for a smooth transition of the business for generations to come at the farm. The new milkhouse will allow for greater bulk tank storage capacity, including a mechanical and water system set up, electrical upgrades, greater trucking accessibility, and easier employee workflow. These efficiencies will reduce costs and risk, while setting the stage for the potential future introduction of a robotic milking system to achieve even greater efficiency. And as farmer-owners Betsy and Bill Bullard plan for their eventual retirement within the next 25 years, they hope these improvements will position the farm business for a successful transfer to the next generation.

This is the eighth year that MFT has awarded Implementation Grants to farmers, totaling $1,385,359 in funds to support projects to help farm businesses increase their profitability and resilience to risk. After completing Farming for the Long Haul, participants have the opportunity to apply for the $65,000 matching grant and bring their business plan before a review committee of MFT staff and industry experts. Awardees must source $65,000 in addition to the $65,000 matching grant received from MFT, resulting in a total of at least $130,000 toward the implementation of their plan.

These Implementation Grants, and the hundreds of hours of workshops, technical assistance, and individual support delivered to farmers annually through MFT’s Farm Business Planning Programs, are made possible through the generosity of The Bingham Trust, Kennebec Savings, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE), Ram Island Conservation Fund, and the many supporters who recognize the value that local farms bring to our communities and economy.

Learn more about Farming for the Long Haul (applications for the 2025-2026 program are open through November 21st!) and MFT’s other farm business planning programs here.