The National Milk Producers Federation’s chief economist estimates dairy farmers have received nearly $5 billion in federal support in 2020.

Peter Vitaliano says more than 80 percent of direct dairy farmer payments were made through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.  He estimates government dairy purchases from June through October used about 6.5 percent of the milk supply and was the main driver for improved farm gate prices.

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