Vermont's top agriculture officials are urging the state's dairy farmers to enroll in a new price protection program.
The Margin Protection Program is a voluntary insurance program that enables dairy farmers to protect themselves from low prices. It is part of the new federal Farm Bill.
The program protects farmers when the difference between milk prices and feed costs fall below an amount selected by the farmer. Minimum coverage costs $100.
Dairy farmers have until Nov. 28 to sign up. A number of meetings are planned across the state in October to help farmers understand the program.
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and U.S. Representative Peter Welch, both Democrats, spoke about the program Thursday at an East Montpelier dairy farm. They were joined by other state and agriculture officials.
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