Minnesota Dairy Farms have a few extra days to apply for financial relief.

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reopened enrollment in its Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program for eligible milk producers through the end of the year.

“After looking applications that came in late and then having a very difficult harvest and conditions for many parts of Minnesota and wanting to keep as many dairy farms as we can in our state, we wanted to offer this assistance that our legislature provided to dairy farmers,” Thom Petersen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said.  

Producers who have locked in five years of coverage through the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program and who have not already successfully enrolled in the DAIRI program can apply.

“This is just a boost to the Dairy Margin Coverage Program,” Petersen said. “We wanted to catch those farmers who were committee to being in for the long term.”

The MDA has already issued $3.4 million to about 1,800 producers representing more than 1,550 farms in Minnesota through the program in its first round of payments.

Producers not yet successfully enrolled will not receive the first round of payment, but may receive a check for the second round, which will be determined after all new enrollments have been received.

In order to qualify, farmers must have produced less than 160,000 cwt (hundredweight) of milk in 2018. They will be paid based on production levels, up to 50,000 cwt of milk produced in 2018.

An application form, an IRS Form W-9, a copy of their DMC enrollment form, and a statement from their processor(s) detailing the amount of milk produced in 2018 are required to complete an application. All materials must be postmarked by December 31, 2019.

Producers who are already successfully enrolled and have received their first check do not need to take any action. They will automatically receive a second payment. However, producers who submitted incomplete applications and have not received a check must return any requested information by December 31, 2019 to be eligible for the second payment.

“I think this is our legislature wanted to send a message that we want to keep all of our dairy farmers,” Petersen said. “We’ve seen the hemorrhaging that has happened in the dairy numbers. In Winona County, we still have 114 dairy farms. We have lost 14 this year, but that has really slowed. Our state wants to invest in programs like this to make sure we are keeping our dairy farmers in Minnesota.”

Those with questions can find additional information online.  

Minnesota Dairy Farms have a few extra days to apply for financial relief.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) reopened enrollment in its Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program for eligible milk producers through the end of the year.
&ldquo;After looking applications that came in late and then having a very difficult harvest and conditions for many parts of Minnesota and wanting to keep as many dairy farms as we can in our state, we wanted to offer this assistance that our legislature provided to dairy farmers,&rdquo; Thom Petersen, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture said. &nbsp;
Producers who have locked in five years of coverage through the USDA Farm Service Agency&rsquo;s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program and who have not already successfully enrolled in the DAIRI program can apply.
&ldquo;This is just a boost to the Dairy Margin Coverage Program,&rdquo; Petersen said. &ldquo;We wanted to catch those farmers who were committee to being in for the long term.&rdquo;
The MDA has already issued $3.4 million to about 1,800 producers representing more than 1,550 farms in Minnesota through the program in its first round of payments.
Producers not yet successfully enrolled will not receive the first round of payment, but may receive a check for the second round, which will be determined after all new enrollments have been received.
In order to qualify, farmers must have produced less than 160,000 cwt (hundredweight) of milk in 2018. They will be paid based on production levels, up to 50,000 cwt of milk produced in 2018.
An application form, an IRS Form W-9, a copy of their DMC enrollment form, and a statement from their processor(s) detailing the amount of milk produced in 2018 are required to complete an application. All materials must be postmarked by December 31, 2019.
Producers who are already successfully enrolled and have received their first check do not need to take any action. They will automatically receive a second payment. However, producers who submitted incomplete applications and have not received a check must return any requested information by December 31, 2019 to be eligible for the second payment.
&ldquo;I think this is our legislature wanted to send a message that we want to keep all of our dairy farmers,&rdquo; Petersen said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen the hemorrhaging that has happened in the dairy numbers. In Winona County, we still have 114 dairy farms. We have lost 14 this year, but that has really slowed. Our state wants to invest in programs like this to make sure we are keeping our dairy farmers in Minnesota.&rdquo;
Those with questions can find additional information <a href="https://www.mda.state.mn.us/dairi">online</a>. &nbsp;

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