After the May 8, 2020, Senate Agriculture meeting it is evident that the dairy producers, in Vermont need all the advocates they can get.  In the meeting they suggested in order for Dairy Producers to receive funds from the Cares Act that was appropriated for Agriculture, the dairy producers shall take transitional counseling to transition out of the dairy industry.   This money is from the Federal Government for the Covid 19 pandemic and to give relief to Vermont's Agriculture community as soon as possible not to transition Dairy Producers out of dairy.

At this time we need the support of the community to remind the Senate, House and State of Vermont that the Dairy Producers are an integral part of Vermont and provide a much needed revenue source to the State of Vermont. (2.2 Billion in 2015)

In addition to the revenue directly from farms there is also revenue that will be lost from the grain companies, processing industry, trucking, supply and support services. 

Diversification is not as easy as they would like to make it out to be, for example last year many farmers were not able to market their hemp that Vermont promoted.

In summary this Cares money was intended to be used for immediate relief due to the pandemic, not to alter business plans.