Minnesota agricultural producers are focusing on the start of another fall harvest. But they shouldn't lose sight of upcoming deadlines for three important federal farm programs.
Sept. 30 is the last day to sign up for 2016 Milk Margin Protection for Dairy, as well as for Agricultural Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, which are cornerstones of the new federal farm safety net.
Local offices of the Farm Service Agency, an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, handle sign-up for the programs. In Wadena County, farmers can call (218) 631-2876.
MPP-Dairy is particularly important in Minnesota, a traditional dairy powerhouse, and South Dakota, in which dairy production has been rising steadily.
The voluntary program, sign-up for which began July 1, pays eligible producers when the difference between an all-milk price and the average feed cost falls below coverage levels they select annually.
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To be eligible for MPP-Dairy, dairy operations must:
• Produce and commercially market milk in the U.S.
• Provide proof of milk production when registering.
• Not be enrolled in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy program.
Many milk producers studied the program earlier this year, but haven't signed up for it yet, says Tracey Erickson, a dairy field specialist.
"They put in on the back-burner, but now they'll need to take a new look at it," she says, noting milk prices have changed since producers studied MPP-Dairy earlier.
Minnesota extension offers information on MPP-Dairy at www.extension.umn.edu/agriculture .
Crop farmers already have selected between ARC, which protects against falling revenue, and PLC, which provides payments when crop prices fall. But to finish the process - which began with information programs last fall - operators and owners of farms in 2014 and 2015 need to actually enroll at their local FSA office.
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FSA officials, who say the enrollment sign-up itself is simple, stress that it's necessary to be eligible for ARC and PLC.
Jonathan Knutson is a staff writer for Agweek. To subscribe to the weekly agriculture magazine, call (800) 811-2580 or email subscriptions@agweek.com .
