Wisconsin Advocacy Prompts Swift Action
Late last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the Dairy Margin Coverage program (DMC) will begin enrollment following publication of the rule in the Federal Register this week.
Amidst mounting pressure, notably from Wisconsin Farm Bureau, American Farm Bureau and Wisconsin state legislators, the USDA’s decision to expedite the opening of enrollment underscores a pivotal development for the agricultural community.
In a proactive move, the American Farm Bureau earlier authored a letter to Deputy Under Secretary Gloria Montano Greene and Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux urging prompt action. This call to action was further amplified by a letter from 29 members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, collectively urging the USDA to immediately commence DMC enrollment.
“Wisconsin Farm Bureau is pleased with the announcement from USDA that DMC enrollment will open soon,” said WFBF President Brad Olson. “Wisconsin dairy farmers rely on DMC as a critical farm safety net program during tough times and its continued absence presented unique challenges to many farms. Wisconsin Farm Bureau made this a top priority early in the year and to get this done for farmers shows the power of our grassroots advocacy.”
DMC signup begins February 28 and ends April 29. For those who sign up for 2024 DMC coverage, payments may begin as soon as March 4 for any payments that retroactively triggered in January 2024.
The urgency of implementing the DMC program cannot be overstated, especially in light of recent data from USDA’s February milk production reports. These reports underscore a concerning trend, revealing a significant decline in the number of licensed dairy herds across the U.S. between 2018 and 2023.
Wisconsin, in particular, has been disproportionately affected, witnessing the loss of more than 2,000 herds during this period. With a staggering 80 percent of dairy farmers in Wisconsin enrolled in the DMC program, the highest percentage in the country, dairy farmers across the state rely on this crucial safety net.
Dairy farms that established supplemental production history through Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage for years 2021 through 2023, will combine the supplemental production history with established production history for one adjusted base production history.
For farms enrolled in 2023 DMC under a multi-year lock-in contract, lock-in eligibility will be extended until December 31. In addition, dairy farms enrolled in multi-year lock-in contracts are eligible for the discounted DMC premium rate during the 2024 coverage year.
To confirm 2024 DMC lock-in coverage or opt out in favor of an annual contract for 2024, dairy farms having lock-in contracts must enroll during the 2024 DMC enrollment period.
For more information visit www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/dairy-margin-coverage-program/.
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