The program provides financial assistance to participating farmers when the margin — the difference between the price of milk and feed costs — falls below the coverage level selected by the farmer.
Vilsack encouraged producers to use the online Web resource at www.fsa.usda.gov/mpptool to calculate the best levels of coverage for their dairy operation.
«Historical scenarios also can be explored to see how the Margin Protection Program would function should poor market conditions occur again in the future,» Vilsack said.
The secure website can be accessed by computer, smartphone or tablet. Dairy Producers can also use this tool and enroll at the local Farm Service Agency office. In Washington County the office is at 1260 Maryland Ave, Suite 107.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also extended the opportunity for public comments on both the Margin Protection Program and the Dairy Product Donation Program until Dec. 15.
«USDA is committed to creating strong opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. When dairy producers bring new family members into the business, these changes could affect safety net coverage,» Vilsack said. «If our current rules hinder intergenerational changes or if improvements are needed in these programs, then we want to hear from dairy producers.»
Comments can be submitted to USDA at the regulations.gov website at http://go.usa.gov/GJSA.
The announcement was made possible through the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer.
Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America.
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