USDA ROLLS OUT DELAP PROGRAM, ANNOUNCES CHEESE PURCHASES
News Date December 22, 2009
With great anticipation, USDA released information regarding the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance
Payment Program (DELAP), funding allocated for dairy farmers through the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The $290 million will be distributed based on produced milk any time from Feb. 2009 through Jul. 2009. Producers are encouraged to apply quickly for the payments, as the deadline is Jan. 19, 2010. Altogether, eligible producers are expected to receive $0.32/cwt. For more information, especially regarding eligibility requirements, visit the FSA DELAP website.
To complete the allocation of emergency dairy funding, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack also announced the cheese purchase provided through the FY 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The purchase of $60 million in cheese and cheese products will be orchestrated by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and then distributed to domestic food assistance programs. A large purchase of cheese for domestic food assistance programs was a key part of NASDA’s Meat the Need proposal. (Contact: David Hickey)