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

Under this $958,156 Cooperative Agreement awarded by the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service on January 4, 2022, Lone Star Milk Producers, Inc. will distribute Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) funds to eligible dairy farmers. The PMVAP, with CFDA #10.183, aims to provide pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers who received lower values due to market abnormalities caused by the pandemic and resulting federal policies.

As the Agreement recipient, Lone Star Milk Producers will disburse PMVAP funds to dairy farmers who marketed milk to a federally regulated milk marketing order handler from July to December 2020. Additional obligations include obtaining adjusted gross income attestations, issuing 1099-MISC forms, documenting payment compliance, and providing dairy policy education to eligible producers. Funds must be fully distributed with documentation by June 30, 2022, and payments are subject to USDA verification. No subawards are involved.

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.