Congressman Langworthy Highlights Expanded Dairy Safety Net as 2027 Dairy Margin Coverage Enrollment Opens

Washington, D.C.-October 2^nd… Congressman Nick Langworthy today highlighted stronger protections available to dairy farmers through the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that enrollment for the 2027 program year will open October 5^th.

The strengthened DMC program includes a provision Congressman Langworthy championed in his Dairy Farm Resiliency Act (H.R. 294) and successfully advanced into law through H.R. 1, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. The change increases the amount of milk production eligible for Tier I DMC coverage from 5 million pounds to 6 million pounds, providing greater protection for small and mid-sized dairy operations when milk prices fall, feed costs rise or margins tighten.

"Dairy farmers across Western New York and the Southern Tier work incredibly hard to keep their farms operating through markets they cannot control," said Congressman Nick Langworthy. "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. 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."

DMC is a voluntary federal risk management program that provides payments when the difference between the national all-milk price and average feed costs falls below a coverage level selected by a participating dairy producer. The program is an important component of the farm safety net for dairy producers across Western New York.

USDA announced September 30 that 2027 DMC enrollment will run from October 5 through December 18, 2026, and dairy producers can enroll through their local USDA Farm Service Agency office. USDA also provides a DMC decision tool to help producers evaluate their coverage options. Producers can select coverage levels ranging from $4.00 to $9.50 per hundredweight. The changes secured through H.R. 1 also reauthorized DMC through 2031, established new production-history rules and provided producers who lock in coverage for 2026 through 2031 with a 25 percent premium discount.