TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher reminded dairy producers in New Jersey who wish to sign up for the 2018 Milk Margin Protection Program to do so before the Dec. 15 deadline. The sign-up for the program in the past had been automatic for those who were registered in previous years, but all milk producers wishing to participate in the program must register this year.
If farmers want to participate at the $4 catastrophic level, they must re-enroll and pay the $100 administrative fee by the Dec. 15 deadline. To register for the MPP go to https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-bill/farm-safety-net/dairy-programs/mpp-decision-tool/index.
The Margin Protection Program for Dairy Producers replaces the Milk Income Loss Contract program and is effective through Dec. 31, 2018. The Margin Protection Program offers dairy producers: (1) catastrophic coverage, at no cost to the producer, other than the annual $100 administrative fee; and (2) various levels of buy-up coverage. Catastrophic coverage provides payments to participating producers when the national dairy production margin is less than $4 per hundredweight.
The national dairy production margin is the difference between the all-milk price and average feed costs. Producers may purchase buy-up coverage that provides payments when margins are between $4 and $8 per cwt. To participate in buy-up coverage, a producer must pay a premium that varies with the level of protection the producer elects.
There are 54 Grade A dairy farms in New Jersey with more than 6,500 dairy cows. New Jersey milk production in 2016 was measured at 122 million pounds with a value of just over $20 million.
To learn more about the Milk Protection Program go to https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/Price-Support/pdf/2016/mpp-dairy_fact_sheet_august_2016.pdf.
— New Jersey Department of Agriculture