Risk Management
Ken McCarty shares his 18-month, layered roadmap for locking in 90% of fuel needs — a scalable strategy for any dairy looking to protect margins and eliminate energy market worry time.
Record‑high beef‑on‑dairy calf prices are reshaping dairy producers’ bottom lines. But experts warn without a deliberate risk management strategy during sky‑high markets, those gains can evaporate just as fast as they appeared.
As labor and fuel costs surge, the Dairy Margin Coverage program is failing to reflect on-farm reality. Enter the data-driven Dairy Revenue Protection tool that accounts for volatile market prices and production.
With the DMC enrollment deadline just days away, current market signals are prompting producers to take a closer look at 2026 coverage options.
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While West Coast milk production slows, Idaho’s dairy industry is surging 7.5%. Learn how vertical integration and beef-on-dairy are driving the state’s massive production surge.
If December was a warning, the projections for the first half of 2026 are a siren. The latest price predictions updated on Jan. 30 suggest a sharp economic turn is underway.
With milk prices under pressure and global supply weighing on margins, analysts say Dairy Margin Coverage is likely to provide early financial support for producers in 2026.
Enrollment for the 2026 Dairy Margin Coverage program opens Jan. 12 with expanded Tier 1 coverage, new production history rules and discounted multiyear premiums following improvements made under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Each of these farms exemplifies how strategic risk management, financial oversight and a focus on profit margins over gross sales can transform a dairy operation into a successful business.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” brings a range of updates for dairy farmers including extended DMC coverage, expanded tax relief, insurance incentives and pricing transparency measures.
It requires a mix of proactive management and strategic planning to thrive in this ever-evolving market landscape.
Unless milk prices take an unexpected dive or feed costs jump significantly, 2025 appears to be following the playbook of years like 2022 or 2024: margins get tighter, but not tight enough to trigger substantial DMC support.
A major highlight of the House Agriculture Committee’s reconciliation proposal is the extension of the Dairy Margin Coverage program through 2031.
From tariffs and export markets to domestic demand and innovative production strategies, navigating this landscape requires astute attention to market signals and strategic planning.
As we navigate the milk market’s changing dynamics in 2025, stakeholders must remain vigilant and proactive.
Dairy farming comes with enough uncertainties—don’t let market volatility be one of them.
Producers are challenged paying the bills with the lack-lusting prices that have shown up on milk checks this summer. Dairy financial leaders share tips on what to do and not to do to survive tough financial times.
Since being confirmed on Feb. 13, Secretary Rollins has been in the Washington D.C., USDA office for a few hours. Most of her time has been spent visiting farmers, ranchers and ag businesses in Kentucky, Kansas and at Top Producer Summit.
Among the secretary’s first public appearances since being confirmed last week, the fireside chat on Tuesday, Feb. 18, will cover key topics driving the future of agriculture.
As the dairy industry navigates evolving challenges, the bond between processors and producers is more significant than ever
As we look ahead to the opportunities and challenges of 2025, the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is once again opening the doors for enrollment in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program.
Products making environmental, social and governance-related claims averaged 28% cumulative growth between 2018 to 2022, versus 20% for products that didn’t, according to McKinsey & Company.
Agriculture can sometimes act as a buffer during broader economic recessions, as demand for essential food items tends to remain relatively stable. However, when multiple indicators align in the industry, it can signal a recession.
Experts are predicting that Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) will average between $11.85/cwt and $12.20/cwt during 2024.
Tips for producers to maximize making money now that the profit equation is finally in favor of dairy.
In the world of dairy farming, maximizing profits and ensuring financial viability is a constant challenge.
If there’s any assurance about the economic picture for the dairy industry and agriculture in general going forward in the next few years, it’s that volatility will be a constant.