MILWAUKEE (AP) - U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says dairy farmers can begin signing up Sept. 2 for a new program that replaces old subsidies.
The program is a kind of insurance that pays farmers when the difference between milk prices and feed prices shrink to a certain level. It replaces a program that paid farmers when milk prices sank too low.
Dairy farmers have struggled in recent years even with good milk prices. Feed costs have risen because of demand for corn from the ethanol industry and recent droughts.
Farmers who enroll in the program, which was authorized by the farm bill passed in February, will pay premiums for certain levels of coverage.
The Agriculture Department said Thursday an online tool can help farmers decide how much coverage they need.
© Associated Press
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Horton man arrested following weekend shooting
Hiawatha man facing sex, drug charges waives prelim hearing
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Two arrested Thursday in Jackson Co on meth-related charges
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison
Jackson Co traffic stop leads to arrest
Inmate dies at Lansing Correctional Facility
Ground Broken for new Sac and Fox Trad'n Post
One held for past Atchison shooting
Early Thursday storms leave damage, outages, locally
MO grass fire battled Thursday
Mound City Mayor Duane Nauman remembered
Community Healthcare System hires new CEO
Brown Co Planning Commission established
Falls City School Board approves personnel moves and purchases
Valley Falls' future set for Wednesday eve discussion
PBPN breaks ground for new business
LATEST STORIES
Friday afternoon: Avoid Hwy 16 west of Holton
90 mph+ downburst winds blamed for Thursday damage
Morrill pair arrested on drug, child endangerment charges
Rates to increase at Brown Co landfill
NOAA weather radio event set in Seneca
Falls City man sentenced to Federal Prison