Dairy Margin Coverage Program Expands Amid New Food Assistance Initiatives
(Anaheim, CA, January 13, 2026) – At the recently concluded 107th American Farm Bureau Federation Convention, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced an expanded enrollment for the 2026 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. Additionally, new Section 32 commodity purchases aim to deliver healthy, U.S.-grown foods to Americans in need. Following the convention, Rollins engaged with local strawberry farmers, including former California Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura, to discuss workforce challenges and recent moves by the Trump Administration to significantly reduce H-2A labor costs for California farmers.
Secretary Rollins and former California Ag Secretary A.G. Kawamura at his strawberry farm in Irvine, CA.
“President Trump is making historic investments in the farm safety net, and today’s announcement is another step towards supporting our dairy producers. These initiatives aim to manage risk and strengthen markets, ensuring they continue providing wholesome nutrition for Americans,” said Secretary Rollins. “We stand firmly with America’s farmers as the farm economy recovers from prior neglect. Our commitment to Make America Healthy Again is reinforced by the recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030, alongside food purchases destined for those in need while concurrently benefitting American farmers facing unfair competition from abroad.”
Improvements to Dairy Margin Coverage Program
Secretary Rollins officially announced the enrollment period for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the 2026 coverage year. This vital safety net program is designed to provide producers with price support to help bridge the gap between milk prices and feed costs. Enrollment opened on January 12, 2026, and will close on February 26, 2026.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025, reauthorized DMC for the years 2026 through 2031 and introduced significant improvements, including new production history establishment and increased Tier 1 coverage. Specifically, the Tier 1 coverage level has been raised from five million pounds to six million pounds.
Dairy operations enrolling in DMC for 2026 will establish a new production history, using the highest milk marketings from 2021, 2022, or 2023. New operations that began marketing milk after January 1, 2023, will base their production on their first year of monthly milk marketings. Documentation such as milk marketing statements will be necessary to establish this history.
Dairy producers can also lock in coverage levels for six years (2026-2031) with premium fees reduced by 25%. Various coverage options are available, including a no-cost option with only a $100 administrative fee. Producers can utilize the online dairy decision tool to assess suitable coverage levels tailored to their specific operations.
For more details, visit the DMC webpage or reach out to your local USDA Service Center.
Section 32 Commodity Purchases to Support American Farmers
Secretary Rollins also revealed USDA’s plan to purchase up to $80 million in specialty crops from American farmers to distribute across food banks and nutrition assistance programs nationwide. These purchases, conducted under the authority granted by Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935, aim to assist both producers and communities in need. This initiative highlights the Trump Administration’s commitment to enhancing American prosperity by supporting local agriculture and rural communities, alongside improving nutrition assistance for those in need.
The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will be purchasing $80 million worth of the following specialty crops:
- Almonds: $20M
- Grape juice: $20M
- Pistachios: $20M
- Raisins: $20M
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