DMC & ARC/PLC Programs Help Dairy and Crop Producers Manage Risks

Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) & Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs help dairy and crop producers manage risks like low milk prices and high feed costs, ensuring more predictable and stable income. Understanding risk considerations and historical trends can help producers make more informed decisions.

The UW-Madison Division of Extension Dairy & Farm Management Teams are joining forces to educate stakeholders on the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) & Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. This informative webinar will be held on November 4, 2026, at 1 pm CST. Register by visiting https://go.wisc.edu/27dmcarc

Leonard Polzin serves as a Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension. He will speak on the topic of Dairy Margin Coverage, the risk considerations, and trends from previous years. DMC is a voluntary risk management tool for dairy producers. Dairy farmers can protect themselves against declines in milk prices and increases in feed costs, thereby ensuring more predictable and stable income. Eligible applicants include dairy operations in the US that produce and commercially market milk from cows. DMC enrollment closes on December 18, 2026. For more information, contact your local FSA office.

The second speaker will be Dr. Paul Mitchell, State Specialist for Cropping Systems Economics for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension. Dr. Mitchell will be speaking about the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) & Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. The ARC/PLC offers financial assistance to agricultural producers who have an interest in a commodity grown on a farm with base acres. The ARC program provides payments when the actual revenue for a farm is less than a guarantee set based on historical data and market conditions. The PLC program provides payments when the effective price for a covered commodity falls below its effective reference price. This program is also administered by FSA and closes December 11, 2026.

Registration

Cost: Free

Register today: https://go.wisc.edu/27dmcarc

More Information

For questions or additional information, please contact Regional Dairy Educator Jackie McCarville at (608) 576-0147 or jackie.mccarville@wisc.edu, or Extension Dairy Educator Angie Ulness at (920) 683-4511 or angie.ulness@wisc.edu.