The USDA is announcing a second round of payments for dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program. The agency is providing an additional $5 million to help dairy producers mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry.
“The program is critical to keeping small, organic dairies sustainable as they continue to weather a combination of challenges outside their control,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “In total, the Farm Service Agency is providing $20 million to give organic dairy producers additional economic support to stay in operation until markets return to more favorable conditions.”
The Farm Service Agency has already paid out $15 million in the first round of payments to eligible producers.
FSA accepted applications for assistance from May 24 to August 11. Eligible operations produce milk from cows, goats, and sheep.