The signup starts today for the Milk Loss Program assistance. This is for dairy producers that had to dump milk without compensation due to weather events that stopped delivery or storage of milk during the years 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The Farm Service Agency administers MLP. The signup goes through Oct. 16.
“The reality for dairy producers is that cattle are milked at least twice a day, producing on average, six to seven gallons of milk per cow, per day. That milk must go somewhere, and when it can’t get where it needs to go and can’t be stored due to circumstances beyond a producer’s control we need to help,” says FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “The Milk Loss Program will help offset the economic loss by producers left with no other choice but dumping their milk during disasters.”
MLP compensates dairy operations for milk dumped or removed without compensation from the commercial milk market due to qualifying disaster events, including droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), and smoke exposure that occurred in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 calendar years.
Tornadoes are considered a qualifying disaster event for calendar year 2022 only.
Find more information, including how to apply, by contacting your local FSA office: https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator