FMMO updates

We all know about the importance of the dairy industry to Idaho's dairy producers and, just as importantly, to Idaho's economy. Well, we have an important update concerning federal milk marketing orders. A final decision on amendments associated with federal milk marketing orders. We have a system put in place originally in 2000, and it was updated in 2008. It was determined that the factors used in those formulas needed to be reexamined. Speaker1: Dana Cole of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service from last July, when she recommended decisions on federal milk marketing orders uniform pricing formulas were published in the Federal Register. AMS recently announced that the final decision on those amendments will also be published in the Federal Register soon. Producer referendums at each of the 11 federal milk marketing orders must take place before changes take effect. Ams will soon mail ballots to eligible independent producers and qualified cooperative associations. Deadlines include ballots postmarked by December 31st and returned by January 15th to be counted.