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 Middlebury Cooperative Milk Producers Association Inc. received a $542,074 cooperative agreement award from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program on December 7, 2021. The purpose of this award is for Middlebury Cooperative to distribute Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program monies to dairy farmers who received a lower value for their milk due to market abnormalities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and related federal policies. Middlebury Cooperative will disburse funds to eligible producers, obtain income attestations, issue IRS Form 1099-MISC to producers, provide documentation that payments complied with program rules, and conduct dairy policy education efforts. No subaward activities are included. All funds must be distributed to eligible dairy farmers 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.