Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that dairy farmers will be compensated for 90% of the value of milk lost due to bird flu infections. The virus has now been confirmed in 132 dairy herds in 12 states.

Payments will be made through the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP). The payments are calculated based on 90% of the value of reduced milk production per cow for 28 days. The USDA will use the all-milk price.

These payments are the latest financial assistance effort by the agency to offset the outbreak’s impact. Up to $28,000 over three months is available to farmers with infected herds to improve biosecurity systems, purchase protective equipment for workers and pay for veterinary treatment and testing of cows. All farmers are eligible for $1,500 to enhance biosecurity standards and up to $2,000 to cover the cost of testing cows for the virus.

Read more on dairy farmer compensation for bird flu losses here.