Vt. congressional delegation talks up $5.7 million in federal aid to farmers

Vt. dairy farmers to get $5.7 million in aid

BURLINGTON, Vt. — More than 1,000 Vermont dairy farmers will share in $5.7 million in emergency federal support to help them recover from the lowest prices in 40 years for their milk.

Sens. Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy and Rep. Peter Welch announced on Thursday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture had begun processing payments under the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment program just before Christmas. Farmers have already begun seeing deposits.

This funding will result in a payment of about $8,000 to the typical Vermont farmer. The measure provides $290 million for direct support to dairy farmers and another $60 million set aside nationwide to purchase cheese for food banks and nutrition programs.