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

The Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded a $6.8 million cooperative agreement to Greater Southwest Agency Inc. under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) on April 5, 2023. The purpose of the agreement is for Greater Southwest Agency to distribute PMVAP funds to dairy farmers who received lower prices for their milk between July and December 2020 due to market abnormalities caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and related federal policies. In addition to disbursing payments, Greater Southwest Agency must obtain income attestations from eligible producers, issue 1099-MISC forms reflecting individual payments of less than $100, provide documentation that payments were correctly administered, and conduct dairy policy education efforts. No sub-recipient activities 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.