Dairy farmers who sold their products at abnormally low prices due to pandemic-related market volatility will be eligible for compensation under a $350 million federal program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA announced details of the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program in an Aug. 19 press release, with the scheme designed to help smaller farmers whose incomes took a hit when milk markets and prices were distorted by the USDA’s big cheese purchases last year for its food box program. Milk prices plunged in March and April of 2020 as schools, restaurants, and hotels were shuttered due to the outbreak. Cheese prices skyrocketed starting in May, however, after the USDA launched its food box program that was meant to help farmers and others in the food industry by funding deliveries of food directly to needy families. Yet many producers failed to benefit from the booming cheese prices due in …
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