Farmers will receive their first milk payment from the state this week.
The state is paying farmers nearly a dollar more per hundred pounds of milk they produce when milk prices fall below a certain level.
The state has pledged $8.6 million in cash assistance to dairy farmers who have been strapped by low milk prices, high fuel costs and heavy rains in early summer that have ruined many crops.
Another $300,000 will be funneled to farmers through three other programs designed to help farmers strengthen their businesses or transition into production of organic milk.