Extended Dairy Margin Coverage Deadline

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the deadline to Sept. 27 for dairy producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019.

Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and available through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), the program offers reasonably priced protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. Almost half of the producers who have signed up so far are taking advantage of the 25 percent premium discount by locking in for five years’ worth of margin protection coverage.

“My message to those dairy producers who are hurting out there: Don’t leave this kind of financial assistance on the table,” said Bill Northey, USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation. “Producers across the country have told us that DMC is a great risk-management tool that works well, and it can work for you, too.” To learn more, visit the DMC section on farmers.gov or contact your local USDA service center. To locate your local FSA office, visit farmers.gov/service-locator.