Note: Final shipments for the 2003 Non-fat Dry Milk Livestock Feed Assistance will be completed in July 2004.

On April 8, 2003, Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture would provide surplus USDA stocks of non-fat dry milk to livestock producers in areas hardest hit by continuing drought. Veneman said the 2003 Non-fat Dry Milk Livestock Feed Assistance would provide timely relief for livestock producers in areas hit hardest by drought by making available surplus stocks of non-fat dry milk (NDM information), that was not intended for nor destined for human consumption. The stocks were provided at a minimal cost to several states and tribal governments in areas designated as severely impacted by drought.

USDA entered into agreements with state and tribal governments to coordinate the movement of the non-fat dry milk to eligible producers. More than 100 counties in nine states met the initial eligibility criteria.

In addition to Tribal governments, the states with eligible counties were: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

The U.S. Drought Monitor (see map) was used to determine which counties were eligible, and eligibility was re-evaluated to ensure the program targeted producers in greatest need. To be eligible, counties must have met one of the following two criteria:

• Be a county or part of a county located in a D4-Exceptional category on the Drought Monitor at any time during the previous six-month period and currently be located in a D3-Extreme or D4-Exceptional area on the date of assessment.
  
• Be a county or part of a county located in a D4-Exceptional area on the Drought Monitor.

Eligible livestock are foundation herds (breeding and replacement stock) of beef cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats. The allocation of NDM for a county was based on a renewable, if applicable, 30-day supply, based upon two pounds of NDM per day for beef cattle and buffalo, and one-half pound of NDM per day for sheep and goats.

Frequently asked questions on this assistance can be found here. Browse the FAQ