USDA commits to funding package to lessen impact of trade disruption and aid families in need
The agency earmarks $84.9 million for purchases of fluid milk, other dairy products.
USDA said on Aug. 27 that it earmarked almost $85 million in new funding to purchase pasteurized fluid milk and other dairy products as part of the nearly $12 billion allocated for U.S. farmers and food manufacturers negatively affected by trade disruption this year. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), both based in Washington, D.C., said they support USDA’s efforts to provide additional benefits to people across the country who don’t have regular access to nutritious milk and dairy products, while helping to alleviate some of the financial difficulties facing dairy farmers and companies that stem from lost export sales.
“U.S. dairy foods companies applaud the efforts of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and his team at USDA for devising a package that will provide nutritious dairy products to people in need while addressing the financial hardships to the dairy industry caused by steep tariff increases and lost sales in foreign markets,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA’s president and CEO.