Assistance can help dairy producers with high costs

Assistance is available for dairy producers with the new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). ODMAP is established to help mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry.

Specifically, under the ODMAP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), is making $104 million available to organic dairy operations, to assist with projected marketing costs in 2023, calculated using their marketing costs in 2022.

“Without assistance, many organic dairies, particularly small organic dairies, will cease production, which not only impacts the domestic supply and consumption of organic milk, but also the well-being of many rural communities across the country,” said Gene Schriefer. “This program will keep Wisconsin small organic dairies in operation, as they continue to weather a combination of challenges outside of their control.”

Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats and sheep. Applications are accepted until July 27. To apply, producers should contact the FSA at their local USDA Service Center.

To complete the ODMAP application, producers must certify to pounds of 2022 milk production, show documentation of their organic certification and submit a completed application form.

Organic dairy operations are required to provide their USDA certification of organic status confirming operation as an organic dairy in 2023 and 2022, along with the certification of 2022 milk production in hundredweight.

The ODMAP provides a one-time cost-share payment, based on marketing costs on pounds of organic milk marketed in the 2022 calendar year.