---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 9052"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "9052"
heading: "Calculation of average feed cost and actual dairy production margins"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/9052"
units:
  - "Chapter 115 — Agricultural Commodity Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter III — Dairy"
  - "Part A — Dairy Margin Coverage"
---

# §9052. Calculation of average feed cost and actual dairy production margins

- (a) **Calculation of average feed cost—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall calculate the national [average feed cost](/usc/7/9051.md?p=3) for each month using the following data:
  - (1) The price of corn for a month shall be the price received during that month by farmers in the [United States](/usc/7/9011.md?p=25) for corn, as reported in the monthly Agricultural Prices report by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20).
  - (2) The price of soybean meal for a month shall be the central Illinois price for soybean meal, as reported in the [Market](/usc/7/198.md?p=1) News–Monthly Soybean Meal Price Report by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20).
  - (3) The price of alfalfa hay for a month shall be the price received during that month by farmers in the [United States](/usc/7/9011.md?p=25) for alfalfa hay, as reported in the monthly Agricultural Prices report by the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20).
- (b) **Calculation of actual dairy production margin—**
  - (1) **In general—** For use in [dairy margin coverage](/usc/7/9051.md?p=5), the [Secretary](/usc/7/9011.md?p=20) shall calculate the [actual dairy production margin](/usc/7/9051.md?p=1) for each month by subtracting—
    - (A) the [average feed cost](/usc/7/9051.md?p=3) for that month, determined in accordance with [subsection (a)](#a); from
    - (B) the [all-milk price](/usc/7/9051.md?p=2) for that month.
  - (2) **Time for calculation—** The calculation required by this subsection shall be made as soon as practicable using the full-month price of the applicable reference month.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–79, title I, § 1402, Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 689; Pub. L. 115–123, div. F, § 60101(b)(1)(B), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 311; Pub. L. 115–334, title I, § 1401(k)(3), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4516.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “dairy margin coverage” for “the margin protection program” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 115–123 substituted “month” for “consecutive 2-month period” wherever appearing.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–334 effective on Jan. 1, 2019, see section 1401(m) of Pub. L. 115–334, set out as a note under section 9051 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–123 applicable beginning with the 2018 calendar year, see section 60101(b)(5) of Pub. L. 115–123, set out as a note under section 9051 of this title.

### Collection of Alfalfa Hay Data

Pub. L. 115–334, title I, § 1401(c), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 4512, provided that: “Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2018], the Secretary [of Agriculture], acting through the National Agricultural Statistics Service, shall revise monthly price survey reports to include prices for high-quality alfalfa hay in the top five milk producing States, as measured by volume of milk produced during the previous month.”