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Dairy farmers have until June 1 to enroll in new MPP

by USDA


Posted on May 30, 2018 at 0:00 AM


Dairy farmers have until June 1 to enroll in the updated Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy). Depending on the coverage they select, many producers will see payments in early June.

The program protects dairy producers by paying them based on the difference between the national all-milk price and the national average feed cost. The 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act made several changes to the safety net program to provide better protections for dairy producers from shifting milk and feed prices.

Updates include: Monthly calculation of the margin period rather than bi-monthly; covered production is increased to 5 million pounds on the Tier 1 premium schedule and premium rates for Tier 1 are substantially lowered; an exemption from paying an administrative fee for limited resource, beginning, veteran and socially disadvantaged producers. Dairy operators enrolled in the previous 2018 enrollment period that qualify for the administrative fee exemption under the new provisions may request a refund. 

Signup for 2018 will be retroactive to Jan. 1.  Margins for February and March have already been announced and payments for those months, along with potential payments for April, will be issued in June based on producer elections.

All dairy operations must make new coverage elections for 2018, even if the operation was enrolled during the previous 2018 signup period. Dairy producers should use the MPP-Dairy Decision Tool for support in making related enrollment decisions.

All dairy operations interested in MPP-Dairy coverage must sign up during the enrollment period and submit form CCC-782 to FSA to enroll. Dairy operations may still “opt out” by not submitting a form.

For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/dairy. Contact your local FSA county office to enroll in the program. To find your local FSA county office, visit https://www.farmers.gov/.


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