Leading Dairy Leaders Ready to Participate in FMMO Hearing
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) board chairman, Randy Mooney, a dairy farmer from Rogersville, Mo., says that dairy farmers nationwide are grateful that USDA is moving forward by including the full scope of NMPF’s proposal to guide the dairy industry forward as it modernizes the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system.
International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) chief economist, Mike Brown, also says that IDFA and their members are fully prepared to participate in the Federal Order hearing, where they plan to provide compelling, fact-based arguments supporting IDFA’s two proposals that were crafted in the best interest of the full dairy supply chain.
The USDA Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing will be assembled on Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. EST in Carmell, Ind. According to the USDA AMS document the purpose of the hearing is to ‘receive evidence with respect to the economic and marketing conditions related to the proposed amendments, hereinafter set forth, and any appropriate modifications thereof to the marketing orders.’
Along with NMPF and IDFA, there are 22 proposals for consideration during the hearing process, including proposals submitted by the following organizations.
- International Dairy Foods Association
- National Milk Producers Federation
- National All-Jersey Inc.
- American Farm Bureau Federation
- California Dairy Campaign
- Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association
- Select Milk Producers Inc.
- Milk Innovation Group
- Edge Dairy Farm Cooperative
- Dairy Program, Agricultural Marketing Service
“We are grateful that both of IDFA’s proposals were accepted by USDA as part of the hearing. We go into this process with the same goal we’ve had all along—unify the industry around ideas that are in the best interest of the full dairy supply chain. IDFA members across the dairy industry want to see milk pricing policies that support all parts of the supply chain, to ensure the industry’s continued success and growth,” Brown says. “We’re pleased to see the Department move forward with the Federal Order hearing, and we fully expect UDSA will ensure all voices are heard, all proposals and presentations are fact based, and the staff at USDA are working in the best interest of the full dairy supply chain rather than just one set of constituents.”
IDFA underscores that this is not a Farm Bill discussion and shares that the focus of the hearing is on the USDA to manage dairy pricing under the existing program. IDFA says that they will continue to work in the best interest of our members and the full U.S. dairy industry to see this process through.
Mooney shares that there is still a long journey ahead toward a modernized federal order system that works better for farmers, but NMPF is ready, with co-op led efforts well under way to ensure that we are well-prepared for the FMMO hearing that begins next month.
“We’re excited to lead this industry toward solutions that will offer benefits for everyone, and we are gratified that USDA is showing thoughtful leadership through its responsiveness and support for dairy,” Mooney says.
Dairy Famers Can Testify
Dairy farmers may testify in person at any time during the hearing, or virtually via Zoom on Fridays. Starting Friday, September 1, 2023, and each Friday thereafter during the hearing, beginning at 12:00 p.m. ET, ten (10) time slots will be available for dairy farmers to testify virtually. Dairy farmers must pre-register to testify virtually, as outlined in the instructions provided on the Hearing website. Each registered dairy farmer will be allocated up to 15 minutes to present testimony. Additional time may be requested. There will be no time limit on cross-examination. Dairy farmers testifying, either in person or virtually, are not required to pre-submit testimony or exhibits.
To read the full AMS-USDA document, ‘Milk in the Northeast and Other Marketing Areas; Notice of Hearing on Proposed Amendments to Marketing Agreements and Orders’ that outlines all 22 proposals go to: federalregister.gov/d/2023-15496.
