Dairy pricing under the lens at FMMO hearing

Have you ever wondered who decides the pricing of your favorite dairy products? Enter the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the recent Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing. 

Roger Cryan, AFBF’s Chief Economist, took center stage, presenting ideas that might just shake up the dairy market. And guess what? This isn’t his first time! 

The AFBF isn't just a fancy name. It represents nearly 6 million dairy farmers from all over the U.S. and even Puerto Rico. These are the heroes who ensure our milk, cheese, and butter reach our tables, and they're significantly affected by pricing rules set by organizations like FMMO. 

AFBF's mission is to make sure these pricing rules are fair to everyone, especially our dairy heroes. So, they pitched nine cool ideas, with four getting a green light from the big bosses at the USDA. 

Some of these ideas even align with what the National Milk Producers Federation thinks, showing that great minds think alike! 

A juicy detail: there’s talk about changing cheese pricing. They're considering ditching barrel cheese from certain calculations and focusing more on larger cheese blocks.  

Oh, and here’s a buttery tidbit: as unsalted butter gains fans in the U.S., AFBF suggests its prices should be considered too. 

Starting on August 23, this hearing will discuss a total of six milk-related topics. Everything AFBF does stems from feedback from its vast member base, previous discussions, and a dairy forum last October. 

Want the full scoop on AFBF’s views? There are resources online for the curious ones. But one thing's for sure: AFBF is on a mission, and dairy pricing might never be the same.