Dairy Margin Coverage and Specialty Crop Purchases Announced at Farm Bureau Convention
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently highlighted key initiatives impacting dairy producers and specialty crop sectors during her address at the 107th American Farm Bureau Federation Convention held on January 12, 2026.
Dairy Margin Coverage Program Updates
Rollins unveiled enrollment details for the 2026 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, designed to assist dairy producers. The DMC serves as a risk management tool that compensates producers when the margins between all-milk prices and average feed costs fall below set thresholds.
Producers have the option to select coverage levels in increments of $0.50, ranging from $4.00 to $9.50 per hundredweight (cwt) of milk. Enrollment for the DMC program is open until February 26, 2026, allowing dairy producers to secure coverage levels through 2031 at a 25% discounted premium fee.
In a notable expansion, Tier 1 coverage will increase from 5 million pounds to 6 million pounds starting in 2026. Additionally, all participating dairy producers will establish a new production history beginning in 2026. For new operations initiated on or after January 1, 2023, the first year’s monthly milk marketings will be utilized for coverage calculations. Existing producers will use the highest production figures from 2021, 2022, or 2023.
“President Trump is making historic investments in the farm safety net,” stated Rollins. “Today’s announcements are crucial for supporting our dairy producers by managing risk and strengthening markets.”
Specialty Crop Purchases for Nutritional Programs
In addition to the DMC update, the USDA plans to allocate up to $80 million for purchasing U.S.-produced specialty crops under Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935. This purchase will benefit food banks and nutrition assistance initiatives across the nation, with planned acquisitions of almonds, grape juice, pistachios, and raisins.
This announcement closely follows the recent release of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans by the FDA and USDA, which emphasizes a shift towards higher protein and whole food consumption, as reported by AgTechNavigator’s sister publication.
“Our mission to Make America Healthy Again continues with the purchase of U.S.-grown food aimed at supporting those in need, while also benefiting American farmers impacted by foreign competition,” Rollins added in her remarks.
These initiatives demonstrate the USDA’s commitment to supporting American agriculture and enhancing food security across the country.
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