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's Agricultural Marketing Service awarded Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. a $939,443 cooperative agreement under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP, CFDA 10.183) to distribute pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers. Under the award, Hilmar Cheese will disburse all PMVAP monies received to eligible dairy farmers who marketed raw milk to a federally regulated milk marketing order handler between July and December 2020. In addition, Hilmar Cheese must obtain adjusted gross income attestations from eligible producers, issue Form 1099-MISC to each reflecting their payment, provide documentation payments were made according to program rules, and provide dairy policy education to eligible producers. No subrecipient activities are involved. The award was issued on February 8, 2022 and must be completed by June 30, 2022.

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.