USDA Opens 2020 Enrollment for Dairy Margin Coverage Program

Enrollment Ends Dec. 13, 2019 WASHINGTON (USDA/FSA-Oct. 7, 2019) — Dairy producers can now enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for calendar year 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened signup for the program that helps producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities. “We know it’s tough out there for American farmers, including …

DMC 2020 Enrollment Starts Monday

For 2020, dairy producers can sign up for coverage under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program beginning Monday, October 7. DMC offers catastrophic coverage at no cost to the producer, other than an annual $100 administrative fee. Producers can opt for greater coverage levels for a premium in addition to the administrative fee. Operations owned by limited resource, beginning, socially disadvantaged or …

NMPF on U.S. Response to Illegal EU Subsidies Under WTO

ARLINGTON, VA (NMPF-Oct. 3, 2019) — “Subsidies and barriers that handicap U.S. businesses in the global marketplace by violating international trade commitments shouldn’t be tolerated. We strongly support the World Trade Organization’s imposition of $7.5 billion in retaliatory duties on European products, including dairy foods, to prod the EU to uphold its World Trade Organization commitments and reinforce the importance …

Farm Bureau Releases Milk Program Recommendations

(AFBF-Oct. 2, 2019) — The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released a proposal for the future of U.S. milk-pricing provisions and marketing-order reform. The recommendations aim to bring more democracy and a more equitable program for all dairy farmers. Although federal milk marketing orders have been a pillar of the dairy industry for more than 80 years, the program has …

ADAI Works with ALDOT to Issue No-Cost Hay Hauler Permits

MONTGOMERY, AL (ADAI-Oct. 2, 2019) — As a result of the extreme drought conditions in Alabama, state transportation and agriculture officials are working to issue special hay hauler permits. This no-cost process is a combined effort of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to provide emergency relief to livestock producers. Drought …

Dairy Margin Sign-up Numbers Smaller than Perdue Expected

Sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program ended last Friday. But while answering questions during a town hall meeting this Tuesday at the World Dairy Expo, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue expressed surprise at the number of dairy producers who did not sign up for the program. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding to Enhance Brahman GeneticsMay 15, …

House Bill Introduced for Additional Agriculture Inspectors

Last week, U.S. Reps. Filemon Vela (D-Texas), Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Vincente Gonsalez (D-Texas), Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.) introduced the Protecting America’s Food & Agricultural Act (H.R. 4482). It would authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection to hire more agriculture inspectors in order to prevent an outbreak of African swine fever in the U.S. The …

More Time Provided for Dairy Producers to Enroll in DMC Program

New Signup Deadline for Dairy Margin Coverage is September 27 WASHINGTON (USDA/FSA-Sept. 19, 2019) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the deadline to September 27 for dairy producers to enroll in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for 2019. The deadline had been September 20. Authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and available through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), …

Executive Salaries of Organization Responsible for Dairy Checkoff Program a Concern

There has been some concern recently related to the salaries for executives at Dairy Management Incorporated, the organization responsible for the Dairy Checkoff Program. An article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel highlights IRS records which indicate that back in 2017 10 DMI executives we paid more than 8 million dollars. Many dairy farmers have voiced varying levels of concern through …

WHIP+ Includes Milk Loss Program

USDA announced this week that ag producers affected by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019 can apply for assistance through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus, otherwise known as WHIP+. Signup for the program starts Sept. 11th. While a majority of the program covers various crops, the relief package does include new programs to cover losses for milk dumped or …