Distribute pandemic market volatility assistance program monies to dairy farmers who received a lower value due to market abnormalities caused by the pandemic and ensuing federal policies

The Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service awarded Foremost Farms USA Cooperative $5.14 million under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP, CFDA 10.183) cooperative agreement through June 30, 2022. Under this award, Foremost Farms will distribute PMVAP funds to eligible dairy farmers who received lower prices for their milk during July-December 2020 due to market abnormalities from the COVID-19 pandemic and related federal policies. In addition to disbursing payments, Foremost Farms must obtain adjusted gross income attestations, issue IRS Form 1099-MISC to producers, document proper payment distribution, and provide dairy policy education to eligible farmers. No subrecipient activities are included in this award to Foremost Farms, which aims to assist dairy farmers through USDA's PMVAP program.

Recipients will disburse pmvap monies to eligible producers. In additional, recipients must obtain adjusted gross income attestations from eligible producers, issue 1099-misc to each producer reflecting their pmvap payment, provide documentation payments were made in accordance to program rules, and provide dairy policy education to eligible producers. Recipients will disburse all pmvap monies to eligible producers, provide and document dairy policy education efforts, and be subject to payment verification by USDA staff. Dairy farmers whose milk we marketed to a federal milk marketing order regulated handler during july through december 2020 are the intended beneficiaries. There are no subrecipient activities.