As the U.S. dairy industry continues to rapidly change, federal dairy policy changes with it. However, if dairy policy is to evolve, dairy farmers need to be involved.
While Federal Milk Marketing Orders have been an important aspect of the dairy industry for more than 80 years, outside of the 2018 Farm Bill, there have not been substantial updates in nearly two decades. The COVID-19 global pandemic highlighted the challenges of volatile milk prices and outdated milk pricing and pooling provisions.
The FMMO system is currently being evaluated and your input is crucial. WFBF has created relevant resources related to the FMMO hearing and comment process. For more information and to submit your comments to the USDA, check out the resources below.
Federal Milk Marketing Order Learning Sessions
To help dairy farmers understand proposed FMMO revisions and the voting process, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation will host a four-part educational series titled “Dairy Decisions: Navigating Federal Milk Marketing Orders”.
Dates for the series are as follows:
- October 21 – 1 – 3 p.m. at UW River Falls, co-hosted by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
- Location: Kinnickinnic Theater, room 320, 501 Wild Rose Ave, River Falls, WI 54022
- Topic: Make Allowances
- October 23 – 1 to 3 p.m. at UW-Platteville
- Location: Markee Student Center’s University Rooms, 1 University Plaza, Platteville, WI 53818
- Topic: Class 1 Differentials
- October 25 – 2 to 4 p.m. at Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center’s North Conference Room
- Location: Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center’s North Conference Room, 7001 Grass Lake Rd, Manitowoc, WI 54220
- Topic: Other Provisions of the Recommended Decision (ESL, Higher of, Composition, Blocks Only, etc.)
- October 28 – 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at UW-Madison
- Location: Kerry Lecture Hall, room MSABD 1115, 1933 Observatory Dr, Madison, WI 53706
- Topic: Implications for Order 30 of the Producer Vote
Speakers for the series include Chuck Nickolson and Leonard Polzin.
Nickolson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His work focuses on the analysis of dairy markets, policy and supply chains and is supported by the UW Dairy Innovation Hub.
Polzin serves as a Dairy Markets and Policy Outreach Specialist. His role involves integrating research findings into outreach efforts aimed at agricultural industry stakeholders at both the state and national levels.
