CDC Commends California Dairy Producers for Vote to Establish a California Federal Milk Marketing Order

California Dairy Campaign (CDC) today commended California dairy producers for voting to join the federal milk marketing order (FMMO) system during the recently concluded statewide referendum. Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that California dairy producers voted to approve a California federal milk marketing order (FMMO) and the implementation date is set for November 1, 2018.

“Since our organization was founded we have called for California to join the federal order system and we applaud all the dairy producers across the state who voted in favor of establishing a federal order for California,” stated CDC President Joe Augusto. “In particular, we applaud the leadership of the state’s cooperatives for introducing a federal order proposal for our state and all their extensive work during the lengthy hearing process leading up to the statewide vote to establish a federal order here.” California Dairies Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. and Land O’Lakes, Inc. introduced a federal milk marketing order proposal for California which began a lengthy hearing process resulting in a statewide referendum among dairy producers who voted in favor of adopting the final proposal for a California federal order.

“California dairy producer prices are routinely some of the lowest in the country, but by joining the federal order system, milk prices paid here and the process for determining milk prices will be brought in line with prices paid in the federal order system,” explained CDC Executive Director Lynne McBride.  According to the USDA economic impact analysis, adoption of the California federal order will result in a $269 million average increase per year in California producer revenue overall.

“We commend California Representatives David Valadao, R-21, and Jim Costa, D-16, and Senator Dianne Feinstein for their leadership in passage of the “California Federal Milk Marketing Order Act” which enabled California to retain its state quota program in the federal order system which was a critical step in the process,” explained California Farmers Union (CFU) President and CDC Board Member Joaquin Contente. “We further commend USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue for his leadership in setting a clear timeline for the referendum and implementation of the federal order and the extensive work of Agricultural Marketing Service Deputy Administrator Dana Coale and her staff.”

 

The California Dairy Campaign (CDC) is a grassroots organization of dairy farmers who are working to encourage lawmakers and the dairy industry to be more responsive to the needs of the family dairy farm in California. The CDC is a member organization of the California Farmers Union (CFU), which represents family farmers and ranchers of all commodities throughout California. CFU is the state chapter of National Farmers Union, which represents more than 200,000 farmers nationwide to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and their communities.