USDA Decision Marks a 'Victory for Dairy Farmers,' Says Langworthy

U.S. Rep. Nick Langworthy hailed the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its recent final decision regarding the Federal Milk Marketing Orders. This move reinstates the former “higher of” Class I mover formula, a pivotal change aimed to bolster dairy farmers both statewide and nationally.
This policy amendment reverts to a pre-2018 Farm Bill pricing structure, addressing and mitigating the financial setbacks suffered by dairy farmers due to the averaging method introduced by the 2018 legislation. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the impacts of the previous formula, costing farmers upwards of $1 billion in skim milk revenue. The revision endeavors to restore fairer, more stabilized pricing to the dairy farmers and the entire industry.
Gregg Doud, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, noted the significance of the Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization, underscoring its potential to secure fairer pricing and stronger foundational operations within the dairy sector. New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher echoed gratitude towards Rep. Langworthy for his efforts in advocating for these essential adjustments critical to New York’s dairy farmers.
New York ranks among the top dairy-producing states in the U.S., and this decision facilitates orderly marketing under the FMMO system, benefiting farmers, manufacturers, and consumers alike. The amendment also updates milk composition factors and increases county-specific Class I differentials.