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

Under this $354,283 cooperative agreement from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Grassland Dairy Products, Inc. will distribute Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP) payments to eligible dairy farmers. PMVAP aims to compensate dairy farmers for milk price losses during the COVID-19 pandemic through agreements with raw milk buyers. In addition to disbursing funds, Grassland Dairy will obtain income attestations, issue 1099 forms, provide payment documentation, and conduct dairy policy educational activities for farmers. Performance will take place in Wisconsin from April 2023 through December 2024. The PMVAP program (CFDA 10.183) utilizes cooperative agreements to make pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers through agreements with raw milk purchasers.

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