News

California Dairy Campaign wants to join Federal Orders

Members of the California Dairy Campaign (CDC) are calling on their Congressional delegation to put the Golden State in the Federal Milk Marketing Order system. CDC had petitioned the California Department of Food and Agriculture last month to raise producer prices to bring them more in line with surrounding states. CDFA did not adopt the petition so the producer organization is seeking an alternative.

CDC Executive Director, Lynne McBride tells Cheese Market News the organization would like to see something similar to a provision included in the 1996 farm bill. That plan would allow California to maintain its quota system and milk standards while participating in the Federal Orders. McBride says the measure was actually included in the ’96 Farm Bill but was never advanced at the state level and expired.

The CDC is a statewide membership association of family dairy farmers that is recognized as a non-profit corporation. The CDC is governed by a state board, which is made up of elected members from each region by each region’s members.