We held a special "Protecting Your Profits" webinar in March. Jayne Sebright, Executive Director at the Center, led the webinar and invited Cynthia Walters, Agricultural Program Specialist with the USDA, to provide an overview of changes in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program for 2024. With the Farm Bill extended through December, DMC enrollment is now open, with dairy farmers having until April 29 to enroll in the margin-based insurance coverage program.

Jayne Sebright also shared a short recap on where dairy markets are and what factors could influence the margins going forward in 2024.

We hosted a special edition of our monthly “Protecting Your Profits” webinar to kick off a new year.  Rob Goodling from Horizon Farm Credit shared 17 performance indicators that have been gathered and analyzed by the Center, Penn State Extension, and Horizon Farm Credit as part of a joint project. A total of 220 herds of various sizes make up the data set in the findings that Goodling will share in the webinar. Ranging from herd performance metrics to financial performance metrics, the performance indicators can help Pennsylvania dairy farm families and the industry representatives who support them to compare their individual dairy performance against the “state” average.

Sebright also shared updates on dairy markets and market factors influencing dairy in early 2024.

December is a great time for planning, reflection, and looking at those controllables in your milk price . The Center’s Executive Director Jayne Sebright hosted the November “Protecting Your Profits” webinar. She shares her perspective on milk markets, supply factors, and what risk management programs are offering in terms of margin.