News

Last call for DMC signup

Dairy farmers have until this Friday to sign up for the new dairy margin coverage program for 2019.

Retroactive till the first of the year, payments will be issued for at least January through July.  USDA expects 2019 payments to farmers in the program to near at least $260 million.

Michigan FSA director Joel Johnson tells Brownfield most farmers are choosing the $9.50 margin level on at least the first 5 million pounds of milk in his state.

“They can protect anywhere from five percent to 95 percent of their production.”        

He says about 68 percent of Michigan dairy farmers have signed up so far for this year compared to 2018.

“We are aware that some operations have ceased milking cows in the meantime and it’s hard to get your arms around what that number is, but we’re also concerned that there might be some people out there who are not totally aware of the program.” 

About half of the nation’s dairy farmers have yet to enroll in the program.  Wisconsin and Minnesota have had the highest enrollments.

The 2019 signup includes a 25 percent discount to lock in premiums until 2023.  Premium levels are lower than past margin coverage programs with higher coverage levels.