Enrollment for Dairy Margin Coverage ends April 29

DES MOINES,— Dairy producers who want to enroll for 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage must do so by April 29.

The safety net program helps offset milk and feed price differences, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Payments retroactive to January began in March 2024.

So far, DMC payments triggered in January and February of 2024 at margins of $8.48 and $9.44 respectively.

Farm Service Agency revised DMC regulations to extend coverage for calendar year 2024, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2024, and to provide an adjustment to the production history for dairy operations with less than 5 million pounds of production. In previous years, smaller dairy operations could establish a supplemental production history and receive Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage.

For 2024, dairy producers can establish one adjusted base production history through DMC for each participating dairy operation to better reflect the operation’s current production.

For 2024 DMC enrollment, dairy operations that established supplemental production history through Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage for coverage years 2021 through 2023, will combine the supplemental production history with established production history for one adjusted base production history.

For dairy operations enrolled in 2023 DMC under a multiyear lock-in contract, lock-in eligibility will be extended until Dec. 31, 2024. Dairy operations enrolled in multiyear lock-in contracts are eligible for the discounted DMC premium rate during the 2024 coverage year.

To confirm 2024 DMC lock-in coverage or opt out in favor of an annual contract for 2024, dairy operations having lock-in contracts must enroll during the 2024 DMC enrollment period.