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 Legacy Milk Cooperative, Inc. a $382,704.93 cooperative agreement under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP, CFDA #10.183) with a completion date of December 31, 2024. Under this award, Legacy Milk Cooperative will distribute Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program monies to dairy farmers who received a lower value for their milk due to market abnormalities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting federal policies from July through December 2020. In addition to disbursing funds, Legacy Milk Cooperative must obtain adjusted gross income attestations from eligible producers, issue 1099-MISC forms reflecting individual payments of less than $600, provide documentation that payments were made according to program rules, and provide dairy policy education to eligible producers. 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.