ALBANY - Gov. David Paterson says millions in federal funds will be directed to New York dairy farmers so they can continue to benefit from a milk price support program despite rising feed costs.

The federal Farm Bill will include a renewal of the “feed cost adjuster amendment,” which manages how much assistance farmers get under the Milk Income Loss Contract program.

MILC provides assistance when milk prices are low, but the feed amendment adjusts that when milk prices are driven up by expensive feed.

New York dairy farmers received $230 million in assistance during the five-year life of the previous federal farm bill.

Paterson says without this amendment, farmers would receive nothing.

New York State's 6,200 dairy farms generate $2.4 billion.