Dairy Margin Coverage Program Deadline
The USDA is reminding dairy producers that time is running out to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program.
The DMC is a voluntary program that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.
Undersecretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says there are some 17 thousand dairy farmers who have signed up for the program. About 40 thousand are said to be eligible for the program. The coverage is retroactive to the first of the year. Indemnity payments are already up to about 200 million dollars on premiums of about 60 million.
Northey says the program will also cover producers into the future.
"We all hope that the margin is better than a $9.50 margin coverage. But if it's not, for a small premium you have some coverage where hopefully the margin is better again. For most producers it makes a lot of sense to be covered."
Colorado has 120 dairy producers of which 94 have established production histories. 62 dairies are enrolled in the DMC , just under 66%.
Payments have totaled more than $1.4 million dollars according to the latest numbers.
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Sign up ends September 20th.
