The U.S. Department of Agriculture will hold a public hearing starting on September 22 in Clovis, Calif., to consider the establishment of a Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) for the state. During the hearing, which is expected to last several weeks, UDSA will hear testimony and gather evidence regarding four proposals for a FMMO in California.

The California dairy industry represents 20 percent of all U.S. milk production and is currently regulated under a state marketing order. The 2014 Farm Bill allows for a California FMMO that recognizes certain state-specific aspects of the current order, if recommended by USDA and approved by California dairy producers.

In February, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service received a formal request for a hearing to establish a FMMO in California from three dairy co-operatives: California Dairies, Inc.; Land O Lakes, Inc.; and Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. AMS has since received additional proposals from the Dairy Institute of California, the California Producer Handlers Association and Ponderosa Dairy. These proposals are available at www.ams.usda.gov/CAOrder.

IDFA is currently reviewing the hearing notice. Members with questions may contact Bob Yonkers, IDFA vice president and chief economist, at byonkers@idfa.org.