Dairy economic loss help available

The USDA Farm Service Agency Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment Program provides a one-time payment to assist dairy producers who have experienced low milk prices and high production costs during 2009. The program provides $290 million for direct payments to dairy producers.

Eligible producers must have produced milk between February and July. Current eligible Milk Income Loss Contract participants do not need to complete an application. Production that has already been submitted for the income loss contract will be used for the economic loss program. FSA is currently processing economic loss payments and they will be available to contract producers soon.

Producers that do not have a current Milk Income Loss Contract on file with FSA will need to meet eligibility requirements. To be eligible a dairy producer must:

* Be a producer who directly or indirectly shares in the risk of production.

* Provide monthly production from February 2009 to July 2009.

* Submit an accurate and complete request for benefits.

* Have an annual average adjusted nonfarm income of $500,000 or less.

* Comply with USDA provisions for highly erodible land and wetlands.

* Not have been convicted of a controlled substance violation.

Producers who do not participate in the MILC program have until Jan. 19 to submit the necessary information for payment: name and location of the dairy operation, contact information including telephone number, name, percentage share, and tax identification number for the entity or individual receiving a share in the payment, and proof of production for the qualifying months.

The information listed may be received by mail, fax, or e-mail. Producers who do not receive MILC benefits may submit necessary information to FSA-USDA-STOP 0512, 1400 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20250-0512 ATTN: DELAP program, fax (202) 690-1536 or e-mail Danielle.Cooke@wdc.usda.gov.

Tags: community, superior, dairy, northland, argriculture, agribusiness