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

Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) was awarded a $3.7 million cooperative agreement by the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program (PMVAP, CFDA #10.183) to distribute pandemic assistance payments to dairy farmers. Per the agreement terms, DFA will disburse all PMVAP monies received to eligible dairy farmers who sold raw milk to a federally regulated handler between July and December 2020. In addition to payment distribution, DFA must obtain income attestations, issue tax forms, provide documentation of compliant payments, and conduct dairy policy education activities for eligible producers. There are no sub-awards associated with this cooperative agreement to DFA, which was awarded on April 20, 2023 and runs through December 31, 2024.

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.