AMS administers programs that create domestic and international marketing opportunities for U.S. producers of food, fiber and specialty crops. AMS also provides the agriculture industry with valuable services to ensure the quality and availability of wholesome food for consumers across the country and around the world. The mission of the Dairy Program is to facilitate the efficient marketing of milk and dairy products. Key Dairy Program activities include:
• Administer Federal Milk Marketing Orders and provide aggregated Federal Order Statistics.
• Help the industry market U.S. dairy products worldwide by providing international programs and services, including export certification services.
• Provide buyers and sellers with an impartial evaluation of dairy equipment and product quality so businesses and consumers can buy with confidence through the Dairy Grading Program.
• Develop dairy grade standards used in the grading appraisal process.
• Provide timely and accurate market information on milk and dairy products through the Dairy Market News and Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting Program.
• Develop Dairy Economic Analysis for multiple Dairy Program, industry, and USDA needs.
• Oversee The Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Program and the Dairy Research and Promotion Program.
• Provide information to assist dairy businesses in the production and processing of milk and dairy products.
• Administer the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program by reimbursing qualified dairy farmers for 80 percent of the revenue difference per month based on an annual production of up to 5 million pounds of milk marketed and on fluid milk sales from July through December 2020.
• Administer the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program by reimbursing milk processors for expenses related to donating milk to eligible distributing organizations, thereby reducing food waste and providing nutrition assistance to low-income individuals.