Without a permanent Farm Bill in place, that means some opportunities for improvement in the dairy industry have been put on hold.

The American Farm Bureau says they are ready to hit the ground running as soon as lawmakers come back to the Hill.

“USDA will be reconvening the hearing yet again at 8 a.m. on January 16, still in the same location in Carmel, Indiana. Once completed, there are still many other steps in this process. USDA will publish this transcript from everything that was said, 1000s of pages. Parties can then file corrections to that transcript, and then parties will file post-hearing briefs or their final comments. Based on the transcripts, USDA will publish a recommended decision in the Federal Register. Parties can then comment on that, and then the USDA will issue a final decision which farmers will then vote on in a referendum,” says AFB Economist Danny Munch.

Another big issue this year is the Dairy Margin Coverage Program. Enrollment is still not open, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill extension. Munch says they do not have a date in mind but says protections should be retroactive.