As of January 2024, the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program is undergoing updates and developments for the 2024 program year. Key points include:

DMC Enrollment for 2024

The sign-up period for the 2024 DMC program has not been announced as of mid-January 2024. Dairy producers are advised to watch for notifications from their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices and to follow relevant agricultural news sources for information on enrollment details​​. The information can be found at https://www.fsa.usda.gov/.

DMC Program Importance

The DMC program is recognized as a crucial risk management tool for dairy producers, assisting them in managing fluctuations between milk prices and feed costs. This program is particularly vital in providing stability during unpredictable economic conditions.  Information on previous developments of the DMC program can be found here: https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/learn-about-the-2023-dairy-margin-coverage-dmc-in-an-extension-webinar-on-november-9/

Software Update Timeline

Updates to FSA’s DMC program software, necessary for 2024 enrollment and production updates, are expected to be available sometime in February or March 2024​​.

2023 DMC Program Statistics

Throughout the first 10 months of 2023, the DMC program distributed over $1.27 billion in indemnity payments, averaging $74,453 per enrolled dairy operation. Approximately 17,059 dairy operations, representing about 74.5% of operations with established production history, were enrolled in the program for 2023​​.

The summary of details are given below:

Description	Statistic
Year	2023
Total Indemnity Payments Distributed	$1.27 billion
Average Payment per Dairy Operation	$74,453
Number of Dairy Operations Enrolled	17,059
Percentage of Operations with Production History Enrolled	74.5%
Duration of Statistics Collection	First 10 months of 2023

Legislative Attention

There has been a call from lawmakers for the Department of Agriculture to promptly open the 2024 DMC sign-up period. The delay in opening enrollment, coupled with the unpredictable nature of the dairy industry, has raised concerns among representatives and the farming community​​.

It is important for dairy producers to stay informed about the latest developments regarding the DMC program so that they can make timely and informed decisions for their operations. 

The history of the DMC program in the light of Farm bill can be found here: https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/articles/a-history-of-dairy-in-the-farm-bill-and-what-it-means-for-the-current-legislation/.