Compared to a month earlier, U.S. average feed costs were lower and milk prices were up, pushing the milk income margin up almost $3 per hundredweight from July’s historic low.

With a federal government shutdown possible, October’s dairy risk management calendar has the potential to be scarier than Halloween.

DMC margins are expected to improve through the end of 2023, but current futures prices indicate indemnity payments at top coverage levels are likely in 10 of 12 months.

The milk income over feed cost margin should have finally reached bottom in July.

Here’s an update on risk management tools available through the USDA and/or USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), as well as other information impacting your milk check.

DMC indemnity payments will surpass income margins for many dairy producers.

Here’s an update on risk management tools available through the USDA and/or USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), as well as other information impacting your milk check.

January-May DMC payments averaged $36,147 per dairy operation enrolled in 2023.

The May 2023 margin continues to be what looks like a lengthy stretch of extremely small margins and high indemnity payments into July-August.

Here’s an update on risk management tools available through the USDA and/or USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), as well as other information impacting your milk check.