California dairy producer groups have requested a hearing to consider a proposal to create a Federal Milk Marketing Area in California, allowing them to operate under a federal milk marketing order rather than their state milk-pricing system. California Dairies Inc. (CDI), Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) and Land O’Lakes, representing 80 percent of California’s milk production, initiated the effort to address the “desire of these cooperatives' dairy farmers to receive more equitable, market-based milk prices,” according to a joint press release.

USDA has invited interested parties to submit additional relevant proposals by April 10, 2015. The 2014 Farm Bill, passed in January of last year, included a provision allowing California dairy producer groups to file such a petition.

For more information, please contact Bob Yonkers, byonkers@idfa.org.