New Entrant Quota Assistance Program (2028) – Two Organic Positions and Balance of Positions on Hold
Last updated: April 29, 2026
Summary
Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) New Entrant Quota Assistance Program is designed to assist those with an interest in dairy farming who may not otherwise have the financial means or opportunity to get started in the industry.
The P5 makes available 160 kilograms of loaned quota per year for the program in Ontario. Subject to DFO issuing a licence to produce and market milk and approving an order to issue quota, DFO will match 20 kilograms of loaned quota to each successful applicant.
The DFO Board has decided the following:
(a) Due to the demand for organic milk, to give priority access to up to two (2) organic new entrants who plan on shipping organic milk continuously for a minimum of five years in one of the following counties; Glengarry, Prescott, Russell, Carleton, Dundas, Stormont, Frontenac, Grenville, Lanark, Leeds, Renfrew, Hastings, Lennox & Addington, Northumberland, Prince Edward.
Click here for the Organic NEQAP application. The deadline to submit the 2028 Organic NEQAP application is June 30, 2026.
(b) However, due to the recent quota exchange cancellations, and in consideration of the number of NPP/NEQAP with priority access to the upcoming quota exchanges and the number of NPP/NEQAP remaining in the queue for 2026 and 2027, the application period for the balance of the 2028 NEQAP positions will not open at the regular scheduled time of July. Therefore, the balance of the 2028 NEQAP positions will be on hold, providing an opportunity for the current backlog of successful applicants with priority access to the quota exchange to be cleared through the next several months.
The DFO Board will review this decision in the Fall of 2026 and determine at that time if/when the application period for the balance of the 2028 NEQAP positions will open.
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Dairy Farmers of Ontario’s (DFO) New Entrant Quota Assistance Program is designed to assist those with an interest in dairy farming who may not otherwise have the financial means or opportunity to get started in the industry.
The P5 makes available 160 kilograms of loaned quota per year for the program in Ontario. Subject to DFO issuing a licence to produce and market milk and approving an order to issue quota, DFO will match 20 kilograms of loaned quota to each successful applicant.
The DFO Board has decided the following:
(a) Due to the demand for organic milk, to give priority access to up to two (2) organic new entrants who plan on shipping organic milk continuously for a minimum of five years in one of the following counties; Glengarry, Prescott, Russell, Carleton, Dundas, Stormont, Frontenac, Grenville, Lanark, Leeds, Renfrew, Hastings, Lennox & Addington, Northumberland, Prince Edward.
Click here for the Organic NEQAP application. The deadline to submit the 2028 Organic NEQAP application is June 30, 2026.
(b) However, due to the recent quota exchange cancellations, and in consideration of the number of NPP/NEQAP with priority access to the upcoming quota exchanges and the number of NPP/NEQAP remaining in the queue for 2026 and 2027, the application period for the balance of the 2028 NEQAP positions will not open at the regular scheduled time of July. Therefore, the balance of the 2028 NEQAP positions will be on hold, providing an opportunity for the current backlog of successful applicants with priority access to the quota exchange to be cleared through the next several months.
The DFO Board will review this decision in the Fall of 2026 and determine at that time if/when the application period for the balance of the 2028 NEQAP positions will open.
