MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) - Milk prices have plummeted in the last year and state Senator Kathleen Vinehout says Wisconsin dairy farmers are being hit hard.

A new federal assistance program that goes into effect next year is aimed at helping farms weather the economic downturn. It sets aside 290 million dollars for payments to dairy farmers.

Vinehout says an average dairy farmer with about 85 cows can expect to get about five thousand dollars. Vinehout chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee. She says most dairy farmers should qualify for help if they’ve already been submitting production data to the Farm Service Administration.

Those who need to apply have until January 19th to do so through their local FSA office.