The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program on June 17 and has started issuing payments to producers who purchased coverage. Producers can enroll through Sept. 20.
Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill, DMC replaces the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy). The program offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. To date, nearly 10,000 operations have signed up for the new program, and FSA has begun paying approximately $100 million to producers for January through May.
May Margin Payment
DMC provides coverage retroactive to January 1, with applicable payments following soon after enrollment.
The May income over feed cost margin was $9.00 per hundredweight, triggering the fifth payment for eligible dairy producers who purchase the $9.50 level of coverage under DMC. Payments for January, February, March and April also were triggered.
With the 50 percent hay blend, FSA’s revised April income over feed cost margin is $8.82 per hundredweight. The revised margins for January, February and March are, respectively, $7.71, $7.91 and $8.66.
Coverage Levels and MPP Reimbursements
Dairy producers can choose coverage levels from $4 up to $9.50 at the time of signup. More than 98 percent of the producers currently enrolled have elected $9.50 coverage on up to 95 percent of their production history.
More Information
On December 20, 2018, President Trump signed into law the 2018 Farm Bill, which provides support, certainty and stability to the nation’s farmers, ranchers and land stewards by enhancing farm support programs, improving crop insurance, maintaining disaster programs and promoting and supporting voluntary conservation.
For more information, visit farmers.gov DMC webpage or contact the Bladen County Farm Service Agency is located at 450 Smith Circle in Elizabethtown. Chris Tatum is the executive director. The phone number is 862-3179, ext. 2.
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