WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/24/2022] – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (all D-MN) announced that Minnesota dairy producers are eligible to sign up for the 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, an important safety net program that helps producers manage changes in milk and feed prices. The lawmakers encourage producers to sign up at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by Dec. 7, 2022.
“The Dairy Margin Coverage program helps provide Minnesota’s dairy farmers with important stability and risk management tools that benefit our rural communities,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “ I encourage all dairy farmers interested in enrolling to apply for the DMC program before December 7.”
“During periods of price volatility, the Dairy Margin Coverage program is an important assurance for dairy farmers,” said Sen. Smith. “I encourage dairy farmers to take advantage of this program and enroll before the December 7 deadline.”
“Minnesota’s dairy farmers are a central part of our agricultural economy – and the resources provided by the Dairy Margin Coverage program will help ensure they are able to keep their operations running smoothly,” said Representative Craig. “I encourage all Second District dairy farmers to take advantage and enroll in this important program today.”
The Dairy Margin Coverage program 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 impact market prices for milk. Last year, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) took steps to improve coverage, especially for small and mid-sized dairies. These improvements include a new supplemental DMC program and updates to the feed cost formula to better address feed costs.
Klobuchar and Smith have worked to provide vital support for dairy producers continuing to face challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Last year, they fought to secure supplemental DMC payments for small and medium-sized dairy farms in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. In August 2021, Klobuchar and Smith led a letter with Representative Angie Craig (D-MN) to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to prioritize finalizing the Supplemental DMC payments.
The DMC program offers different levels of coverage and all dairy operations in the United States are eligible for the DMC program. To determine the appropriate level of DMC coverage for a specific dairy operation, producers can use the online dairy decision tool. To locate their local FSA office, producers can visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.
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