The new California Federal Milk Marketing Order – an effort supported by Land O’Lakes and other industry leaders in California – took effect on November 1.

This is good news for our California dairy members, who will generally see an advantage in their pay price moving from the California State Order to FMMO. The policy will also help address disparities between farm gate prices in California and the rest of the nation.

On Nov. 7, to mark the launch of the new policy, USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach joined more than 60 dairy industry stakeholders at the farm of Land O’Lakes, Inc. Board Director Cornell Kasbergen in Tulare, CA. Following a farm tour led by Cornell, Under Secretary Ibach noted the importance of the Federal Milk Marketing Order for California’s dairy industry.

“America’s dairy farmers face many challenges at home and abroad so working together is more important than ever,” said Ibach. “This new Federal Milk Marketing Order decreases regulation for processors, moving industry into a less regulatory system, and also helps put California’s producers on equal footing with producers across the country.”

“We were pleased to have Under Secretary Ibach visit California to mark the beginning of the California Federal Milk Marketing Order, a positive step forward for California farm families,” said Pete Garbani, director of member relations and California state government affairs for Land O’Lakes. “We truly appreciate all those in industry, and at USDA, who helped craft and implement this important policy.”