On Wednesday, six Midwestern dairy groups on a taskforce studying improvements to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders issued a statement in response to the introduction of the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and her colleagues Sens. Leahy, D-Vt., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, introduced the bill, which calls on the agriculture secretary to begin a national hearing process on FMMOs within six months of its passage. The hearings must look at the issue of the Class I mover but may also address any other issues of concern that USDA sees fit.
The task force members are the Dairy Business Association, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Iowa State Dairy Association, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Nebraska State Dairy Association and South Dakota Dairy Producers.
STATEMENT
“We are pleased to see that federal order reform is top of mind in the Senate. Our task force continues to work on a comprehensive solution to the broad set of issues at hand. The Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act leaves the door open to considering various proposals, such as the Class III Plus proposal put forth early this year, and the ability to address other areas of the system that are just as urgent, such as increasing price transparency. The task force has also supported the creation of an academic dairy pricing study that would aid in this important discussion. We ask lawmakers to support this research effort to help inform whatever emerges from the hearing process. We look forward to working with the Senate and USDA to find a lasting solution for our dairy farmers.”
Source: Minnesota Milk