Vilsack Provides Dairy Assistance Details

Members of the dairy industry, particularly small and mid-sized operations, have been hit hard by the pandemic. Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced details of what's being called the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program. He noted any program to help producers must address basic assistance efforts.

"One, a dairy donation program that is designed to defray the cost of donated milk."

Reducing losses for farmers who make donations.

"Secondly, we've increased in providing a supplemental margin coverage payment. It will go out to small and mid-sized dairy producers under that program."

And third there's help for smaller dairy producers who saw their milk markets and prices distorted by USDA's big cheese purchases for its food box program. So, the Secretary noted the USDA intends to reimburse those producers for some of the loss that they incurred during the pandemic.

He noted these are just three actions in a larger comprehensive $2 billion efforts top help the dairy industry recover.

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