Dairy Farmers and Processors Encouraged to Apply for Dairy Assistance Grants
The Dairy Assistance application has now been open for a of couple weeks and payments have started to arrive to our early applicants! Vermont State Legislature appropriated $25 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds to the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) to establish the Dairy Assistance Application. Of these funds, $21.2 million is available for grant awards to milk producers, and $3.8 million is available for awards to dairy processors. These funds will be used to stabilize milk producers and dairy processors based on their lost revenues related to business interruption caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets will issue grant payments under this program on a first-come, first-served basis. All compensable losses and costs must have been incurred since March 1, 2020 and be related to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Although applications will be processed in the order they are received, VAAFM expects to have adequate funding for all eligible dairy producers and processors to take advantage of this assistance. All applications must be received by October 1, 2020, and all funds will be expended by December 20, 2020.
Milk producers, if qualified, are eligible for grants to reimburse for demonstrated economic harm up to the following maximum amounts:
- Small farms shall receive up to $18,300.00.
- Certified small farms shall receive up to $34,300.00.
- Medium farms shall receive up to $56,000.00.
- Large farms shall receive up to $100,000.00.
Dairy processors, if qualified, are eligible for grants to reimburse for demonstrated economic harm up to the following maximum amounts:
- Dairy processors that process less than 500 pounds of milk per day shall receive up to $31,000.00.
- Dairy processors that process from 500 to 9,999 pounds of milk per day shall receive up to $40,000.00.
- Dairy processors that process from 10,000 to 49,999 pounds of milk per day shall receive up to $50,000.00.
- Dairy processors that process 50,000 pounds or more of milk per day shall receive up to $60,000.00.
Assistance is available to those needing help submitting an application.
Deadline to apply for Dairy Assistance grant is October 1, 2020.
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