The Shadow
Richmond, Va. – The enrollment period for the USDA Farm Service Agency’s 2025 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program is now open and ends on March 31. This program is a voluntary risk management tool that provides dairy producers with financial assistance when the margin between the all-milk price and average feed cost falls below a certain coverage level.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) administers the Dairy Producer Margin Coverage Premium Assistance Program which provides reimbursement funding to dairy producers for their premium payment for enrollment in the federal DMC program at the tier one coverage level.
Visit www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/smc-dpmc.pdf to access the Virginia Dairy Producer Margin Coverage Premium Assistance Program application and submit it before the May 15 deadline. To qualify for reimbursement, a dairy farm must meet the following criteria:
- Maintain a grade A milk permit issued by VDACS.
- Be actively producing milk in Virginia at the time of application.
- Have an active resource or nutrient management plan approved by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) or a local soil and water conservation district or have a plan that is under review by DCR or a local soil and water conservation district.
- Submit a completed and signed Commonwealth of Virginia Substitute W-9 form.
- Be enrolled in the 2025 USDA Farm Service Agency DMC program at the Tier 1 coverage level AND have paid the annual premium in full.
Copies of required documents should be included with the application. Program reimbursement funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications may be emailed to milk@vdacs.virginia.gov or mailed by postal service to:
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Attention: DPMC Premium Assistance Program
PO Box 1163
Richmond, Va. 23218
Questions regarding the Dairy Producer Margin Coverage Premium Assistance Program should be directed to the State Milk Commission at (804) 786-2013 or milk@vdacs.virginia.gov.
