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 $101,480 cooperative agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service will support V & V Supremo Foods, Inc., doing business as Chula Vista Cheese, to administer the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP). PMVAP aims to provide $101,480 in pandemic assistance payments, through agreements with raw milk buyers, to dairy farmers who received a lower value due to market abnormalities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting federal policies.

Under the agreement, Chula Vista Cheese will distribute PMVAP monies to eligible dairy producers who sold raw milk to federally regulated handlers from July through December 2020. The recipient will obtain adjusted gross income attestations, issue IRS Form 1099-MISC to producers, provide documentation that payments complied with program rules, and conduct dairy policy education for eligible producers. All PMVAP funds must be disbursed to farmers by June 30, 2022. No subawards are associated with this cooperative agreement.

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.