A new bill has been introduced that would require a hearing on the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO). New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who introduced the legislation, wants to hear firsthand from farmers about the issues needing addressed.
Gillibrand, joined by Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, introduced the bipartisan Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act. It would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to initiate the process of holding FMMO hearings within six months.
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) released this statement Wednesday:
Sen. Gillibrand’s legislation, cosponsored by Sens. Leahy and Collins, adds bipartisan momentum to a range of critical milk pricing discussions that dairy farmers are having through NMPF’s Economic Policy Committee. NMPF is continuing to work with USDA and Congress on how best to remedy deficiencies in the Class I mover formula and fully recoup $750 million in unintended losses felt by farmers of all sizes. NMPF also is leading discussions on a broad range of Federal Milk Marketing Order reform issues important to producers in all regions of the country. We look forward to pursuing policy improvements that will serve all dairy producers more equitably and effectively.
Gillibrand said changes dairy farms need have not been taken seriously enough within the farm bill writing process, and she hopes to gain some much-needed momentum in addressing systemic shortfalls in the current federal milk marketing system ahead of the 2023 expiration of the farm bill.
The Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act would allow dairy producers and industry members to consider and review proposals that could change Class I skim milk pricing.