Dairy Margin Coverage premiums due

Congratulations to all the local youth who showcased the dairy industry at their local county fairs. Best of luck to those partaking in the Minnesota State Fair.

It is hard to believe that we will be chopping silage in no time. Last year, during the late summer, we had some extreme heat. For that reason, I have included an article about the Livestock Indemnity Program offered by Farm Service Agency. Let’s hope this is not needed because of the heat, but being prepared is important. This program also triggers with blizzards and extreme cold conditions.

It’s time to pay those 2025 Dairy Margin Coverage premiums. Full payment of your DMC premium is required by Sept. 1, 2025. Please note that you are still obligated to pay this premium for the 2025 coverage year. Failure to pay the remaining balance could impact your eligibility for future DMC participation. You can view current and historical DMC margin prices and payment forecasts at www.DMCDecisionTool.com under the “Price Forecast” tab.

A quick reminder: If your operation stops commercially marketing milk, please notify your FSA office within 60 days of the sale to avoid any DMC overpayments. Any overpayments made will need to be repaid to FSA.

Disaster assistance available for livestock losses

LIP provides assistance to you for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, disease and attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild by the federal government or protected by federal law. For disease losses, FSA county committees can accept veterinarian certifications that livestock deaths were directly related to adverse weather and unpreventable through good animal husbandry and management.

For 2025 livestock losses, you must file a notice of loss and provide the following supporting documentation and application for payment to your local FSA office by March 2, 2026:

— Proof of death documentation.

— Proof of normal mortality documentation.

— Livestock beginning inventory documentation.

— Copy of grower’s contracts, if applicable.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has established normal mortality rates for each type and weight range of eligible livestock (for example, an adult beef cow is 1.5%, and non-adult beef cattle are 5%). These established percentages reflect losses that are considered expected or typical under “normal” conditions.

For more information, contact your local county USDA service center or visit fsa.usda.gov.

Keeping livestock inventory records

Livestock inventory records are necessary in the event of a natural disaster, so remember to keep them updated. When disasters strike, the FSA can help you if you’ve suffered excessive livestock death losses and grazing or feed losses due to eligible natural disasters.

For 2025 losses through the LIP and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program, you must file a notice of loss and provide the following supporting documentation and application for payment to your local FSA office by March 2, 2026.

You should record all pertinent information regarding livestock inventory records, including:

— Documentation of the number, kind, type and weight range of livestock.

— Beginning inventory supported by birth recordings or purchase receipts.

For more information on documentation requirements, contact your local county USDA service center or visit fsa.usda.gov.

Be proud of what you have accomplished this summer. We certainly are proud of you.

Farm Service Agency is an equal opportunity lender. Complaints about discrimination should be sent to: Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., 20250. Visit www.fsa.usda.gov for application forms and updates on USDA programs.