News

Late changes in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program calculations make the program even more attractive for dairy farmers. DMC sign-up begins June 17 at local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices.

Digest Highlights

• Risk management: Two important dates
• Dairy turns attention to USMCA
• U.S. organic sales topped $50 billion in 2018
• Another try: Proposal opens H-2A visas to dairy
• Hart Dairy gains funding
• Wisconsin Dairy Task Force 2.0 wrapping up work
• University of Minnesota Dairy Education Center renamed
• Missouri law addresses CAFOs

The dairy news was mixed to mostly better in the USDA’s monthly World Ag Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report, released June 11.

A proposal to give livestock farmers flexibility in dealing with weather-related feed emergencies has been introduced in the House of Representatives. The Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act (FEEDD Act) was co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) and Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota). It would give farmers and ranchers additional emergency flexibility to help alleviate feed concerns, as well as promote conservation in years of excessive moisture, flooding and drought.

In late May, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the USDA would roll out a three-pronged aid package aimed at helping U.S. farmers suffering financial damages due to ongoing trade disputes.