Milk Donation Program

Under this program, eligible dairy organizations partner with non-profit organizations that distribute food to low-income individuals. Those partnerships may apply for and receive limited reimbursements to cover expenses related to certain fluid milk product donations.

In the 2018 Farm Bill, Congress directed USDA to develop the program to reduce food waste and provide nutrition assistance to low-income individuals. Congress authorized $9 million for the program in Fiscal Year 2019, and $5 million per fiscal year thereafter.

Interested partnerships must apply for program participation by submitting a completed Milk Donation and Distribution Plan Form and Eligible Distributor Certification Form. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, as received. See below for information on how to apply and claim reimbursement. 

Eligible Dairy Organizations (EDO)

Dairy farmers, cooperatives, and processors purchasing fresh milk or bulk dairy products to process into retailpackaged dairy products may qualify for this program. In addition, the dairy farmer, cooperative or processor must file a Receipts and Utilization report with a Federal milk marketing order (FMMO). For those reporting to a local FMMO office as part of normal business operations, the requirement is already met. For those that do not, please contact us at ddp@usda.gov so that we can help with filing the Receipts and Utilization report.

Eligible Distributors

EDOs may form one or more partnerships with nonprofit feeding organizations, called eligible distributors, that distribute food to individuals and families. EDOs can partner with an umbrella organization that includes multiple distribution locations or with an individual (or independent) organization with a single distribution location.

The DDP reimburses the EDO for

1. Cost of milk to make the donated product - applicable classified price of the fresh fluid milk (or bulk dairy commodity product milk equivalent) used in the donated dairy product;

2. Manufacturing costs—a standard cost for manufacturing the donated dairy product;

3. Transportation costs—portion of the costs to transport donated product between the plant and distribution location.

What About the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program?

If you participated in the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program (MDRP), you do not need to apply for the DDP. Current participants in the MDRP are automatically enrolled in the DDP. EDOs will receive the same reimbursement for cost of milk, manufacturing, and transportation as DDP participants.

Submit the following to apply for program eligibility:

• Dairy Donation and Distribution Plan Form (xlsx)

• Eligible Distributor Certification Form (xlsx)

Once approved for program eligibility, submit the following to receive reimbursement:

• Reimbursement Claim Form (xlsx)

Submit all forms to DDP@usda.gov.

In addition, for the Dairy Donation and Distribution Plan Form, please create and email a password in a separate email to DDP@usda.gov.

• Webinar: USDA’s Dairy Donation Program (DDP)

• MDRP Reimbursement Claim Form Overview (pdf)

• Milk Donation and Distribution Plan Form Sample (xlsx)

• Milk Donation Reimbursement Program (MDRP): What Do I Need to Know?

• Part 1146—Milk Donation Reimbursement Program

• Commodity Specifications for Fluid Milk and Milk Products Eligible for the Milk Donation Reimbursement Program (pdf)