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 Farmfirst Dairy Cooperative was awarded a $115,226.69 cooperative agreement from the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) to distribute pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers. Per the agreement terms, Farmfirst will disburse the full PMVAP funding amount to eligible dairy farmers who marketed raw milk to a federally regulated handler between July and December 2020. In addition, Farmfirst must obtain adjusted gross income attestations from producers, issue 1099-MISC forms reflecting individual payments, provide documentation that funds were distributed according to program rules, and conduct dairy policy education efforts for eligible farmers. The award period is from April 5, 2023 to December 31, 2024. There are no subrecipient activities 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.