Financial Assistance for Dairy Farmers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program pays dairy farmers who enroll in the program when the difference (margin) between the national prices of milk and feed falls below certain levels. From 2019 through 2024, this program made net payments to dairy farmers that totaled about $2.7 billion after subtracting fees and premiums collected for enrollment and coverage.

However, some farmers have trouble getting information about the program, including the sign-up deadline. GAO is making a recommendation that USDA assess how effectively it is communicating with dairy farmers about the DMC program.