Twenty-five dairy manufacturers sent letters to Agriculture Committee members, calling on them to oppose supply management proposals and adopt a compromise producer safety net.

SAN JOSE - Sujatha Kattimani, a Redwood City software engineer, drives regularly to the Cupertino Farmers Market to buy raw milk at $7.25 per half-gallon. It’s about three times as expensive as regular milk and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, could make her ill. Kattimani drinks two glasses a day anyway. And she’s one of a rapidly growing number of raw milk enthusiasts.

The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), representing California’s dairy families today announced the award of over $1.4 million in cash, books and school supply prizes to elementary schools in Southern California as part of the Real Seal Appeal! sweepstakes drawing.

The cooperative’s butter business increased 22 percent and packaged cheese sales climbed 43 percent in five years.

The state’s producers attained their highest-ever output with fewer cows and dairies. Most milk was turned into cheese and butter.

On a day-of-business basis, they sent roughly the same number: 12,420 head/day in 2012 and 12,450 head per day in 2011.