Dairy farmers’ enrollment period in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Margin Protection Program began July 1 and will run through Sept. 30 for coverage in 2016.
The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating dairy operations when the difference between the price of milk and feed costs falls below a coverage level selected by the farmer.
Participating farmers will remain in the program through 2018 and pay a $100 administrative fee each year. Producers also have the option of selecting a different coverage level during open enrollment each year. Margin Protection Program payments are based on an operation’s historical production. The USDA has a secure online resource atfsa.usda.gov/mpptool to help dairy producers decide which level of coverage will provide them with the strongest safety net under a variety of conditions.
Dairy operations enrolling in the program must meet conservation compliance provisions. For more information, visit fsa.usda.gov/dairy or a USDA Farm Service Agency office.
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