Calling all Indiana dairy farmers! As the calendar turned past to February 28, 2024, an essential opportunity is now knocking at your barn doors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching the 2024 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, and for Indiana, with more than 800 dairy farms housing over 174,000 dairy cows, this initiative holds special significance. With an average of 140 cows per farm, and over 97 percent of dairy farms in Indiana family-owned, the DMC program becomes a crucial lifeline for the state's dairy community.

The USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) has recognized the unique landscape of Indiana's dairy industry. Eligible dairy operations in the state now have the opportunity to make a one-time adjustment to their established production history, aligning with the needs of family-owned farms. This adjustment, which combines supplemental production history with DMC production history, is a tailored measure to provide flexibility and support for Indiana dairy operations. To find your local USDA FSA office go to: https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator

For Indiana dairy farmers signing up for the 2024 DMC coverage, payments may kick in as early as March 4, 2024. This quick initiation ensures that Hoosier producers can promptly benefit from the program, especially for payments triggered in January 2024. The program's goal is to offer timely financial support to Indiana's dairy farms, fostering stability and resilience.

For more information on this program go to:

https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/dairy-margin-coverage-program/index