| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Andy Gray |
| August 17, 2004 | (406) 444-3730 TTY (406) 444-4687 |
(EDITORS: A map showing eligible counties can be downloaded from: www.agr.mt.gov/news/milkmap.jpg.)
New Rules for Nonfat Dry Milk Feed Assistance
HELENA, Mont. — Livestock producers in 16 drought-stricken counties can receive powdered milk from a government stockpile to supplement feed supplies. In Montana, however, the program may be less attractive than similar assistance offered in 2003.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the 2004 Nonfat Dry Milk Livestock Feed Initiative on July 15, 2004. The goal of the program is to provide assistance to producers of breeding stock including cattle, bison, sheep and goats.
Sixteen Montana counties qualify for 24 million pounds of the outdated dry milk, which has been treated with a flavor ingredient to make it unpalatable to humans. The qualifying counties are: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Carter, Custer, Cascade, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, Madison, Meagher, Park, Powder River, Powell, Rosebud and Silver Bow.
In an effort to reduce federal costs and curb abuses encountered in the 2003 program, the USDA has added several restrictions on use of the nonfat dry milk. The changes may make it more difficult for Montana producers to participate in the program, says Ralph Peck, director of the Montana Department of Agriculture.
Distribution is being managed by the state with help from Extension Service agents in the affected counties. Eligibility was determined using the federal Drought Monitor, a map of drought severity prepared by a nationwide consortium.
USDA is encouraging direct use of the nonfat dry milk by livestock producers, or a producer may designate a qualifying feed company to accept the product in exchange for commercial feed.
Because nonfat dry milk has limited uses in Montana, feed companies face challenges in finding suitable uses or markets that fulfill the USDA requirements, Peck says. Some local feed companies also may have nonfat dry milk remaining from the 2003 distributions.
In some states, producers have tried spreading nonfat dry milk directly on hay offered to cattle during winter feeding operations. Success with the method may depend on spreading the product evenly to encourage consumption of the hay as well as the dry milk.
USDA has established an allotment of 45 pounds per cow or bison animal and 11 pounds per sheep or goat. This year, there will be a charge of $275 per truckload of nonfat dry milk. A load is equivalent to approximately 41,500 pounds. Because USDA will deliver only full loads, a producer who accepts delivery to a ranch must have enough animals to qualify for a full load.
"This is the only program available, and we will do everything we can to make it work for Montana producers," says Peck. To sign up for the 2004 program, producers from qualifying counties must contact a county Extension Service office in an eligible county. Extension agents will have information on the program guidelines and will accept applications for processing by the Montana Department of Agriculture.
Applications will be accepted until Sept. 30. Federal guidelines for the 2004 program can be found at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov/2004ndm.htm.
Extension Service contacts for the eligible counties are:
Beaverhead and Silver Bow - JP Tanner, (406) 683-3785Broadwater and Meagher- Virginia Knerr, (406) 266-9242
Carter - Larry Brence, (406) 874-8236
Cascade - Wade Crouch, (406) 454-6980
Custer - Kent Williams, (406) 874-3370
Deer Lodge - Barbara Andreozzi, (406) 563-4035
Gallatin - Ron Carlstrom, (406) 582-3280
Jefferson and Madison - Cameron Clark, (406) 287-3282
Lewis & Clark - Larry Hoffman, (406) 447-8346
Park - Marty Malone, (406) 222-4156
Powder River - Mary Rumph, (406) 436-2424
Powell - Lee Rinehart, (406) 846-3680
Rosebud - Janna Kincheloe, (406) 346-7320
