The Dairy Margin Coverage program will begin enrollment following the publication of the rule in the Federal Register this week.
The USDA’s decision to expedite the opening of enrollment underscores a pivotal development for the agricultural community.
“Wisconsin Farm Bureau is pleased with the announcement from USDA that DMC enrollment will open soon,” says WFBF President Brad Olson. “Wisconsin dairy farmers rely on DMC as a critical farm safety net program during tough times and its continued absence presented unique challenges to many farms.”
DMC signup begins Feb. 28 and ends April 29. Payments may start as soon as March 4 for any payments triggered in January 2024.
The urgency of implementing the DMC program cannot be overstated, especially in light of recent data from USDA’s February milk production reports. These reports reveal a significant decline in the number of licensed dairy herds across the U.S. between 2018 and 2023.
Wisconsin lost more than 2,000 herds during this period. Wisconsin dairy farmers rely on this safety net. Eighty percent of Wisconsin dairy farmers enroll in the DMC program, the highest percentage in the country.
Get more info: www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/dairy-margin-coverage-program/
