USDA Opens 2027 Dairy Margin Coverage Enrollment

By Blake Jackson

Congressman Nick Langworthy is encouraging dairy producers to take advantage of expanded protections available through the federal Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program as enrollment for the 2027 coverage year gets underway.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that dairy farmers can enroll in the 2027 DMC program from October 5 through December 18, 2026. The program provides financial assistance when the national average milk price, after accounting for average feed costs, falls below a coverage level selected by a participating producer.

A key change increases the amount of milk production eligible for Tier I DMC coverage from 5 million pounds to 6 million pounds. Langworthy previously supported the provision through his Dairy Farm Resiliency Act, H.R. 294, which was ultimately included in H.R. 1, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

The expanded threshold is intended to provide additional support to small and midsized dairy farms during periods of declining milk prices, higher feed expenses, and tighter operating margins.

“Dairy farmers across Western New York and the Southern Tier work incredibly hard to keep their farms operating through markets they cannot control. I introduced the Dairy Farm Resiliency Act because our dairy farmers deserve a strong and reliable safety net when milk prices and feed costs put pressure on their operations," said Congressman Nick Langworthy.

"I am proud that we were able to get this provision across the finish line and into law, giving farmers greater protection when they need it most. I encourage every eligible dairy producer to take advantage of the expanded program and enroll for 2027.”

Producers can select DMC coverage levels between $4.00 and $9.50 per hundredweight and complete enrollment through their local USDA Farm Service Agency office. USDA also offers a DMC decision tool to help farmers compare coverage choices.

H.R. 1 also extends DMC authorization through 2031, establishes updated production-history rules and offers a 25% premium discount for producers who secure coverage from 2026 through 2031.

Photo Credit: usda