Here’s an update on news impacting your dairy during the third week of January 2024.
- Holstein Association USA advances MW genetic identification
- 2024 DMC enrollment period details still in the works
- Still waiting on 2024 federal funding plans
- USDA offering risk management education funds
Holstein Association USA advances MW genetic identification
Holstein Association USA will declare early onset muscle weakness syndrome (MW) as an officially recognized genetic condition beginning in February.
The recommendation comes after the Holstein Association USA’s Genetic Advancement Committee analysis of the MW haplotypes following the December 2023 genetic evaluations. Comments from Holstein breeders and scientific researchers further supported the decision.
Starting in February 2024, direct gene test results for MW will be labeled on official Holstein pedigrees. The following codes will be used to designate animals with official gene test results on file:
- TE = tested free of MW
- MW = heterozygous carrier
- MW2 = homozygous carrier
Results for MW haplotypes are reported as 0 (free), 1 (carrier), 2 (homozygous affected), 3 (suspected carrier) or 4 (suspected homozygous) on evaluations.
Additional resources and information on MW can be found on the Holstein Association USA website.
2024 DMC enrollment period details still in the works
While calendar year 2024 is well underway, the USDA is still working on details regarding enrollment in the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program for the year.
Last November, the House and Senate approved H.R. 6363 (the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024). In addition to extending the USDA appropriations bill until Jan. 19 (see below), the bill contained special provisions extending the DMC program though 2024 and rolling the Supplemental DMC program into the regular program.
In a Jan. 16 letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and USDA Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux, 11 U.S. House members questioned delays to open 2024 DMC enrollment, urging the agency to “swiftly open the sign-up.”
According to USDA, DMC extension requires amending the program through a rule-making process to combine the production history from DMC with the production history from Supplemental DMC, as well as software updates. Once proposed, the change must be posted to the Federal Register.
The December 2023 DMC margin and potential indemnity payments will be calculated based on USDA milk and feed prices announced on Jan. 31. As of Jan. 17, the DMC decision tool was forecasting a margin of $8.84 per hundredweight (cwt), triggering Tier I indemnity payments at $9 and $9.50 per cwt coverage levels.
Beginning the program’s new year, the January 2024 DMC margin and potential payments are set to be announced on Feb. 29. In the past, changes to the enrollment process have provided retroactive payments.
Still waiting on 2024 federal funding plans
With one deadline here and another one approaching, a continuing resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown remained in limbo. At Progressive Dairy’s news deadline, Congress had not yet passed a bill extending fiscal year 2024 federal agency funding. The proposed CR addresses the following programs and related agencies:
- Four appropriations bills, scheduled to expire on Jan. 19, would be extended until March 1. They cover: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Energy and Water Development; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.
- Eight appropriations bills, scheduled to expire on Feb. 2, would be extended until March 8. They cover: Commerce, Justice and Science; Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior and Environment; Labor, Health and Human Services and Education; Legislative Branch; and State and Foreign Operations.
USDA offering risk management education funds
The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is hosting a series of live town hall meetings to assist organizations applying for risk management education outreach agreements.
The RMA announced up to $3 million is available for cooperative agreements to educate underserved, small-scale and organic producers on farm risk management and climate-smart farm practices. The funding from the RMA through its Risk Management Education (RME) provides partnerships for organizations, such as nonprofits and land-grant universities, to develop training and resources for producers about risk management options.
The RMA is hosting weekly live virtual town halls every Wednesday through Feb 28, beginning at 1 p.m. (Eastern time). Two webinar trainings covering the grant application process are scheduled for Jan. 25 and Jan. 30., beginning at 3 p.m. (Eastern time).
The deadline to apply for 2024 funding is March 4. Visit the Risk Management Education website for more information.
