USDA Announces Recommended Decision on California Federal Milk Marketing Order

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced its recommended decision to establish a California Federal Milk Marketing Order.  The marketing area of the recommended FMMO would incorporate the entire state of California. Where appropriate, the recommended California FMMO proposes adoption of uniform order provisions contained in the 10 current FMMOs.  These uniform provisions include, but are not limited to, dairy product classification, end-product price formulas and the producer-handler definition.  The proposed order would recognize the unique market structure of the California dairy industry through tailored performance-based standards to determine eligibility for pool participation.  The proposed order provides for the recognition of producer quota as administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture