USDA highlights support during National Dairy Month
June is National Dairy Month
5 June 2023
1 minute read
By: The last few years have seen the US dairy industry weather some storms, including an unprecedented global pandemic and the related supply chain disruptions, which forced producers to dump millions of gallons of milk that no longer had a market, according to a recent press release from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). In light of National Dairy Month, celebrated in June, the news release highlights the USDA's continued support for the industry.
In January, for instance, USDA announced the new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP). ODMAP was 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. Under ODMAP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency is making $104 million available to organic dairy operations to assist with marketing costs. ODMAP began May 24 and runs through July 26, 2023.
Furthermore, since its inception in 2019, the USDA said Dairy Business Innovation (DBI) Initiatives have been supporting dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing and distribution of dairy products. DBI Initiatives provide direct technical assistance and grants to dairy businesses, including niche dairy products, such as specialty cheese, or dairy products derived from the milk of a dairy animal, including cow, sheep and goat milk.
