WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger—a Member of the House Agriculture Committee—is encouraging Central Virginia dairy producers to enroll in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for calendar year 2020.

The DMC program assists dairy farmers as they manage financial uncertainty related to volatile milk prices and feed costs. 2020 signup for the DMC program began this month, and farmers can enroll at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office through December 13, 2019. Click here for additional information on the DMC program’s coverage for 2020, and click here to locate your region’s FSA office.

“As Central Virginia dairy farmers grapple with unpredictable markets and increased production costs, commonsense measures like the DMC program can help farm families survive tough conditions. And with enrollment now open for the 2020 DMC program, I’m hoping many of our district’s producers will take advantage of the DMC’s coverage options—just as they did in the 2019 round,” said Spanberger. “Through these affordable coverage options, we can provide much-needed support to our hardworking dairy producers and their families. Especially as dairy farms continue to close in Virginia and across the country, we need to be seeking new ways to protect the livelihoods of these producers—and in my role as a Member of the House Agriculture Committee, I’ll keep fighting to strengthen our country’s dairy safety net.”

According to the USDA, American dairy farmers have already earned more than $300 million from the 2019 DMC program.

BACKGROUND

Since arriving in the U.S. House, Spanberger has continued to advocate for Central Virginia’s dairy farmers and the need to build a strong foundation for the next generation of dairy producers. Earlier this year, Spanberger and a bipartisan group of her colleagues urged USDA to prioritize swift implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill-approved DMC program, especially as dairy farms continue to close and consolidate in Central Virginia and across the country.

And in March, Spanberger sent letters to Central Virginia dairy producers to update them on the delayed implementation of the DMC program—and she has continued to communicate with them about the status of the program.

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