WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2022 – Dairy producers can now enroll for 2023 coverage through the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program, an important safety net program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps producers manage changes in milk and feed prices. Last year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) took steps to improve coverage, especially for small- and mid-sized dairies, including offering a new Supplemental DMC program and updating its feed cost formula to better address retroactive, current and future feed costs. These changes continue to support producers through this year’s signup, which begins today and ends Dec. 7, 2022.


U.S. flag
    An official website of the United States government
     Here’s how you know Here’s how you know **Official websites use .gov**  A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
 Farm Service Agency
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 About FSA
  Ask USDA
  Contact Us
  Forms
 Menu
  close
   Home
    Programs & Services
     ARC/PLC Program
         Civil Rights
         Certified Mediation Program
         Climate Adaptation Plan
         Conservation Programs
         Cooperative Agreements
         Dairy Margin Coverage Program
         Disaster Assistance Programs
         Economic & Policy Analysis
       Emergency Relief 
         Environmental & Cultural Resource Compliance
         Farm Bill Home
         Farm Labor Stabilization & Protection Pilot Grants
         Farm Loan Programs
         Financial Management Information
         Increasing Land Access
         Initiatives
       Laws and Regulations
         Margin Protection Program for Dairy
         Market Facilitation Program
         MIDAS
         Organic Certification Cost Share Program
         Outreach & Education
         Payment Eligibility
         Price Support
         Rice Production Program
    State Offices
    Online Services
     LDP
         eARC/PLC
         Farmers.gov (FSA Farm+)
         FSA Online Data Resources
         Loan Assistance Tool
    Newsroom
     Fact Sheets
         News Releases
         Emergency Designations
         Stakeholder Information
         eFOIA
       Meetings & Events
         Public Service Announcements
         County Committee Elections
         Fence PostSearch small Search
 Dairy Producers Can Now Enroll for 2023 Signup for Dairy Margin Coverage  Contact:FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov Protect Your Operation from Ups and Downs in the Market WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2022 – Dairy producers can now enroll for 2023 coverage through the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program, an important safety net program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps producers manage changes in milk and feed prices. Last year, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) took steps to improve coverage, especially for small- and mid-sized dairies, including offering a new Supplemental DMC program and updating its feed cost formula to better address retroactive, current and future feed costs. These changes continue to support producers through this year’s signup, which begins today and ends Dec. 9, 2022. “Dairy producers are the backbone of many agricultural communities across rural America,” FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux said. “Dairy Margin Coverage provides critical assistance to our nation’s small- and mid-sized dairies, helping make sure they can manage the numerous and often unpredictable uncertainties that adversely impact market prices for milk. This year showed why enrolling in DMC makes good business sense. Early in the year, some economists predicted that DMC would not trigger any payments for the calendar year, but then fast forward to now, when we’re starting to see payments trigger and a return on investment.” DMC is a voluntary risk management program that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. So far in 2022, DMC payments to more than 17,000 dairy operations have triggered for August for more than $47.9 million. According to DMC margin projections, an indemnity payment is projected for September as well. At $0.15 per hundredweight for $9.50 coverage, risk coverage through DMC is a relatively inexpensive investment. DMC offers different levels of coverage, even an option that is free to producers, aside from a $100 administrative fee. Limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged or a military veteran farmers or ranchers are exempt from paying the administrative fee, if requested. To determine the appropriate level of DMC coverage for a specific dairy operation, producers can use the online dairy decision tool. Supplemental DMC Last year, USDA introduced Supplemental DMC, which provided $42.8 million in payments to better help small- and mid-sized dairy operations that had increased production over the years but were not able to enroll the additional production. Supplemental DMC is also available for 2023. Supplemental DMC coverage is applicable to calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023.  Eligible dairy operations with less than 5 million pounds of established production history may enroll supplemental pounds. For producers who enrolled in Supplemental DMC in 2022, the supplemental coverage will automatically be added to the 2023 DMC contract that previously established a supplemental production history. Producers who did not enroll in Supplemental DMC in 2022 can do so now. Producers should complete their Supplemental DMC enrollment before enrolling in 2023 DMC. To enroll, producers will need to provide their 2019 actual milk marketings, which FSA uses to determine established production history. DMC Payments Additionally, FSA will continue to calculate DMC payments using updated feed and premium hay costs, making the program more reflective of actual dairy producer expenses.  These updated feed calculations use 100% premium alfalfa hay rather than 50%. The benefits of these feed cost adjustments were realized in the recent August 2022 margin payment as current high feed and premium hay costs were considered in payment calculations. More Information In addition to DMC, USDA offers other risk management tools for dairy producers, including the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) plan that protects against a decline in milk revenue (yield and price) and the Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) plan, which provides protection against the loss of the market value of livestock minus the feed costs. Both DRP and LGM livestock insurance policies are offered through the Risk Management Agency. Producers should contact their local crop insurance agent for more information. For more information on DMC, visit the DMC webpageor contact your local USDA Service Center. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
 USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
 Return to the list of News Releases
 Placeholder
 Recent News USDA Announces 2024 Wool and Mohair Marketing Assistance Loan Rates
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation today announced Marketing Assistance Loan rates for 2024-crop graded wool by micron class. Loan rates for ungraded wool and mohair are unchanged and remained the same from the prior crop year.
USDA Appoints New Members to the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20, 2023 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack appointed four new members to the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Federal Advisory Committee (Committee). The new members are replacing four members whose terms are expiring and rotating off the Committee. The Committee is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) efforts to support urban agriculture and innovative production, creating a network for feedback.
Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs Receive 2018 Farm Bill One Year Extension, Farmers Can Now Enroll for the 2024 Crop Year
WASHINGTON, Dec. 18, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that agricultural producers can now enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2024 crop year. Producers can enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year starting Dec. 18, 2023. The deadline to complete enrollment and any election change is March 15, 2024.
 Home
   Programs & Services
   State Offices
   Online Services
   Newsroom
 Farmers.gov
          USA.gov
          USDA.gov
          Whitehouse.gov
       Accessibility Statement
          Common Questions
          Freedom of Information Act
       No FEAR Report
          Information Quality
          Non-Discrimination Statement
       Policies and Links
          Privacy Policy
          Sitemap
    Sign up for updates
      Subscribe
 Farm Service Agency
 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 facebook-loFacebook
 youtube-loYouTube
 twitter-loTwitter
 gov-delivery-loTwitter
 rss-loRSS