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Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says Dairy Margin Coverage sign-up will open mid-June.

March 22, 2019

2 Min Read
inside of a dairy barn with dairy cows
DMC TRIGGERED: The first payment for eligible dairy producers who purchase coverage under the new Dairy Margin Coverage program has been triggered by the January dairy income over feed cost margin.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency announced March 13 that the January 2019 dairy income over feed cost margin was $7.99 per cwt, triggering the first payment for eligible dairy producers who purchase the appropriate level of coverage under the new but yet-to-be established Dairy Margin Coverage program.

DMC, which replaces the Margin Protection Program for Dairy, is a voluntary risk management program for dairy producers that was authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill. DMC 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.

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that sign-up for DMC will open by mid-June of this year. At the time of sign-up, producers who elect a DMC coverage level between $8.00 and $9.50 would be eligible for a payment for January 2019.

For example, a dairy operation with an established production history of 3 million pounds (30,000 cwt.) that elects the $9.50 coverage level for 50% of its production could potentially be eligible to receive $1,887.50 for January.

Sample calculation 1:

$9.50 - $7.99 margin = $1.51 difference

$1.51 x 50% of production x 2,500 cwt. (30,000 cwt./12) = $1,887.50

The calculated annual premium for coverage at $9.50 on 50% of a 3-million-pound production history for this example would be $2,250.

Sample calculation 2:

3,000,000 x 50% = 1,500,000/100 = 15,000 cwt. x 0.150 premium fee = $2,250

Operations making a one-time election to participate in DMC through 2023 are eligible to receive a 25% discount on their premium for the existing margin coverage rates.

“Congress created the Dairy Margin Coverage program to provide an important financial safety net for dairy producers, helping them weather shifting milk and feed prices,” says FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “This program builds on the previous Margin Protection Program for Dairy, carrying forward many of the program upgrades made last year based on feedback from producers. We’re working diligently to implement the DMC program and other FSA programs authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill.”

Additional details about DMC and other FSA farm bill program changes can be found at farmers.gov/farmbill.

Source: USDA Farm Service Agency, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.

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