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

This $434,771 cooperative agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service will support the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP). Administered through Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, the funding will enable the awardee to distribute Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance monies to eligible dairy farmers. Specifically, Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery will disburse PMVAP funds to dairy producers who received a lower value for their milk due to market abnormalities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and related federal policies during July-December 2020. In addition, the awardee will obtain adjusted gross income attestations from eligible producers, issue IRS Form 1099-MISC to each reflecting their payment, provide documentation that payments complied with program rules, and conduct dairy policy education efforts. No sub-awardee activities are involved. The December 6, 2021 award has a completion date of June 30, 2022.

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.