This week the president signed the ag appropriations bill into law which included $350 million dollars in aid to the dairy industry. The bill leaves it in the hands of Ag
Secretary Tom Vilsack on how the $290 million dollars in direct payments to dairy farmers will be distributed. It is hoped that he will make that decision within the next 30 days so that the checks can be in the mail by the end of November or early December.
The additional $60 million dollars will be used by the government to purchase cheese and other dairy products and provide them to food shelters.