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 US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service awarded Saputo Cheese USA Inc. a $177,192.09 cooperative agreement under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP, CFDA 10.183) from April 19, 2023 to December 31, 2024. As a subrecipient, Saputo was responsible for distributing $177k in pandemic assistance payments to eligible dairy farmers who faced market abnormalities and financial losses due to COVID-19, as intended under the PMVAP. Saputo's responsibilities included disbursing payments to producers, obtaining income attestations, issuing 1099-MISC forms, documenting payment compliance with program rules, and providing dairy policy education materials. The award supported Saputo's role in delivering pandemic relief funds and educational resources to dairy farmers on behalf of the funding agency.

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.