NC H1070

Appropriates $4,104,000 from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for grants to eligible dairy producers for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, with all funds to be expended by December 30, 2020.

Provides monthly grant payments to Grade A milk producers based on the difference between a baseline price of $20.38 per hundredweight and the announced Class I Milk Price for the Appalachian Milk Marketing Order area, for months from April 2020 through December 30, 2020.

Caps monthly grant payments at $25,000 per producer and allows the Department to award partial grants or supplement with other available funds if appropriations are insufficient to pay all eligible producers in full.

Permits the Department to use up to 1% of appropriated funds for administrative expenses and requires reporting to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture by October 1, 2020, and February 1, 2021.

Targets relief to dairy producers and processors who lost over half their market due to COVID-19 related shutdowns of schools and food service industries.