The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the deadline for the new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program to Aug. 11.

This extension gives Maine organic dairy producers more than two additional weeks to apply for the program.

ODMAP helps producers mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. This assistance aims to help keep Maine organic dairy operations sustainable until markets return to more normal conditions.

Through USDA’s Farm Service Agency, $104 million is available to organic dairy operations to assist with projected marketing costs this year. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats and sheep.

ODMAP assistance is calculated using a producers’ marketing costs in 2022. For new, transitioning or expanded organic dairy operations, assistance is based on projected marketed production in 2023. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats and sheep.

FSA will make an initial ODMAP payment to eligible applicants factored by 75%. If funds remain at the end of the application period, an additional payment, not to exceed the remaining 25%, may be issued to eligible producers.

For more information, visit usda.gov.

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