On February 6, 2024, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) issued an open letter addressing the 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program delays.
The DMC program, extended through the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act of 2024, provides vital support for America’s dairy farming families amid ongoing market uncertainties. The program’s Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage has been particularly beneficial, allowing dairy farmers to adjust their DMC policies to better fit their operational needs.
However, while enrollment for other risk management programs, such as Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, opened on December 18, DMC enrollment remains on hold. AFBF acknowledges the regulatory challenges of implementing the 2024 DMC program promptly, including the need for a new regulation and software updates to reflect updated production history data.
The letter highlights the importance of timely program administration for maintaining a stable farm economy that provides food security for millions of domestic and international consumers. AFBF is urging the Farm Service Agency to do everything within its power to publish the necessary rules, make the required software updates, and open DMC enrollment as promptly as possible.
