The new year is taking shape with risk management policies offering enrollment for 2025 as the 2018 Farm Bill was granted a one-year extension, as well as the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) referendum passing with the new rule to take effect June 1.

Enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage program for the 2025 coverage year is set to begin Jan. 29 and will remain open through March 31.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report Dec. 31, 2024, which includes feed costs used to calculate the November Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. As expected, the margin fell to $14.29 per hundredweight (cwt).

The 2024 year ended with Class III prices showing more traction in December than in previous months as cheese and whey protein prices improved, and Class IV prices remained elevated to reflect strong market conditions.

Here is what is happening in dairy-related news as we start the final month of the year: Fluid milk sales declined in September, Trump nominates Brooke Rollins for secretary of agriculture, Holstein updates pedigrees with slick gene label, and new dairy innovations are promoted.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its Agricultural Prices report Nov. 19, which includes feed costs used to calculate the October Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program margins and indemnity payments. The margin slipped to $15.17 per hundredweight (cwt).

As we look to the last month of the year, milk prices are trending lower than the previous months’ highs with milk production up year over year, new cheese plants online and holiday buying finishing up noted as a few influencing factors. Yet margins continue to look favorable.