By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reminding dairy producers to enroll in the 2025 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program before the March 31 deadline. This risk management program offers financial support when the margin between milk prices and feed costs drops below a set level.
The DMC enrollment period began on January 29, and the USDA is urging farmers to secure coverage. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Deputy State Executive Director Brenda Archuleta encouraged producers to participate, stating, "At $0.15 per hundredweight for $9.50 coverage, risk protection through Dairy Margin Coverage is a cost-effective tool to manage risk and provide security for your operations."
Authorized under the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) and extended by the American Relief Act, 2025, DMC provides a cost-effective solution for dairy producers to protect against market volatility.
The program offers different coverage levels, requiring only a $100 administrative fee. This fee is waived for limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged, or military veteran producers.
DMC payments are based on updated feed cost calculations, including 100% premium alfalfa hay, making the program more accurate in reflecting producer expenses.
Dairy farmers looking for more details can visit the DMC webpage or contact their local USDA Service Center for enrollment assistance.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: National