March 1, 2007

By Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets

MONTPELIER — Governor Jim Douglas signed into law on February 23, 2007 a bill extending the Vermont Target Price Program. The $3 million dollar legislation includes an interim dairy assistance plan where dairy producers will receive a single payment made by the end of March 2007 based on January and February milk production. The deadline is fast approaching and it is critical that farmers take action to return the Authorization for Release of Records to their local Farm Services Agency or provide necessary information to the Agency of Agriculture.

In an effort to provide funds to farmers quickly, the Farm Services Agency has agreed to share the records used for the Milk Income Loss Contract X (MILCX) program with the Agency of Agriculture. All farms must fill out a new Authorization for Release of Records Form and return it to their local Farm Services Agency Officer by March 6, 2007. This form is necessary to allow for the transfer of records and participation in the state program. If you do not take part in the MILCX program you are still eligible to participate in this program. To do so, farmers must provide the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets with verifiable production amounts for January and February.

Farms that have seasonal milk production with no milk production in the qualifying months are also eligible for this program. Seasonal herds with no milk production in the qualifying months will be paid on the monthly production average of 12 months, including the payment period. For further information, please contact Diane Bothfeld or Byron Moyer at Vermont Agency of Agriculture 828-2430.

Governor Douglas said the dairy industry is a source of major economic income for the state. Gross sales of cheese, ice cream, yogurt and milk equal $1.2 billion a year. Dairy product manufacturing in Vermont employs over 1700 people with over $70 million in gross wages to Vermonters.