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 Dairy Group Inc. received a $233,423 cooperative agreement award 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. The award period is from April 10, 2023 through December 31, 2024.

Under the agreement, The Dairy Group Inc. will disburse $233K in PMVAP monies to eligible dairy farmers who marketed raw milk to a federally regulated milk marketing order handler from July through December 2020. The organization must obtain adjusted gross income attestations, issue 1099-MISC forms, and provide documentation that payments were made according to program rules. The Dairy Group Inc. is also responsible for providing dairy policy education to eligible farmers and being subject to payment verification by USDA. There are no subrecipient activities associated with this award.

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.