Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 12/17/09

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced USDA will implement a new Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment (DELAP) program to help struggling dairy farmers stabilize their operations during tough economic times.

The 2010 Agricultural Appropriations Bill authorized $290 million for loss assistance payments to eligible dairy producers.

"I have personally heard from hundreds of struggling dairy farmers from all across our country who have been hit hard by declining prices over the past year and now, we'll be able to offer them help," said Vilsack in a news release.

Eligible producers will receive a one-time direct payment based on the amount of milk both produced and commercially marketed by their operation during the months of February through July 2009.

Through much of this past year, USDA took a number of steps to provide relief to U.S. dairy farmers, including approximately $1 billion spent in fiscal year 2009 on purchases of dairy products (Dairy Product Price Support Program) and payments to producers (Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC).

For more details on today's program announcement click here.

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