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by Minnesota Milk Producers Association on Feb 3, 2026 11:10:02 AM
Enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program is now open with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). Since September, we have coordinated with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the state FSA to ensure a smooth rollout of Minnesota’s Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Relief Initiative (DAIRI) program that piggy-backs on the DMC program.
Here is everything you need to know regarding the current law and the DAIRI program:
Deadlines and How to Apply
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Initial Deadline: Applications for DAIRI are being accepted through March 19, 2026 by MDA (unless the FSA extends the DMC signup deadline). The online application is open now.
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Requirement: To be eligible for DAIRI, farmers must first sign up for a five-year DMC contract.
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Apply Online: Visit the MDA DAIRI webpage to get started.
Production History & New Farmers
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Existing Farms: Per the 2023 law, payments will be based on 2022 production levels.
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New Farms: We are working to update state policy so that new farms (those not marketing milk for all of 2022) can use their FSA-established production history for eligibility and payments.
Funding & Policy Goals
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Current Budget: MDA currently has $3 million available for DAIRI.
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Our Goal: We are advocating to restore the DAIRI funding level to the original $8 million appropriation before the legislature cut DAIRI funding last year.
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Production Caps: Farmers above 16 million pounds are not eligible for the state DAIRI program. At the federal level, tier 1 is increasing to 6 million pounds, from 5 million pounds.
We will keep you updated as we work with the state on these policy shifts.