Distribute pandemic marketvolatility assistance program monies to dairy farmers who received alower value due to market abnormalities caused by the pandemic andensuing federal policies

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded Greater Southwest Agency Inc. an $11.47 million cooperative agreement under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP, CFDA 10.183) from February 7, 2022 to June 30, 2022.

Under this award, Greater Southwest Agency will distribute PMVAP funds to dairy farmers in Texas 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 to disbursing payments, Greater Southwest Agency must obtain adjusted gross income attestations from eligible producers, issue 1099-MISC forms reflecting individual payments, provide documentation that payments complied with program rules, and conduct dairy policy education for beneficiaries. There are no subrecipients involved. The purpose of this funding is to provide pandemic assistance to dairy farmers impacted by market volatility in 2020.

Recipients will disburse pmvap monies toeligible producers. In additional, recipients must obtain adjustedgross income attestations from eligible producers, issue 1099-misc toeach producer reflecting their pmvap payment, provide documentationpayments were made in accordance to program rules, and provide dairypolicy education to eligible producers. Recipients will disburse allpmvap monies to eligible producers, provide and document dairy policyeducation efforts, and be subject to payment verification by USDA staff.dairy farmers whose milk we marketed to a federal milk marketing orderregulated handler during july through december 2020 are the intendedbeneficiaries. There are no subrecipient activities.