Here’s an update on news impacting your dairy as we approach the middle of December 2023.
- FMMO hearing back in recess
- House vote expected on whole milk in schools
- Holstein Association USA tracks MW haplotype
- World Dairy Expo award nominations due by Feb. 1
- Coming up this week
- In case you missed it
FMMO hearing back in recess
The USDA’s national public hearing to consider Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) proposals to amend uniform pricing formulas has entered another recess period after taking testimony on Dec. 8. According to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the hearing will reconvene on Jan. 16-19, 2024, in Carmel, Indiana. If needed, the hearing would resume again the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 2, 2024.
House vote expected on whole milk in schools
Both NMPF and International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) urged members to contact lawmakers in preparation for a House vote on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 1147). The bill would expand milk options that schools can choose to serve in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Program options have been limited to nonfat and low-fat (1%) varieties since 2012. Approved by the House Education & Workforce Committee last June, the House bill allows schools to add reduced-fat (2%) and whole milk options. A companion bill (S. 1957) was introduced in the Senate last June. Read also: Whole milk brings the nutrition children want, and need
Holstein Association USA tracks MW haplotype
Holstein Association USA has continued to monitor information related to early onset muscle weakness syndrome (MW) and made the haplotype results available in conjunction with the official genetic evaluation release on Dec. 5. Following a review, Holstein Association USA plans to add MW to the list of officially recognized undesirable genetic conditions in February 2024.
World Dairy Expo award nominations due by Feb. 1
Nominations for the 2024 World Dairy Expo Recognition Awards (Dairy Producer of the Year, Industry Person of the Year and International Person of the Year) are being accepted through Feb. 1, 2024. Award recipients will be recognized on Oct. 2.
Coming up this week
November 2023 FMMO pooling estimates, uniform prices and producer price differentials will be released on Dec. 11-14 and summarized by Progressive Dairy on Dec. 15.
In case you missed it
Dairy producers whose milk was pooled on three southeastern U.S. FMMOs (Appalachian, Florida and Southeast) have until Dec. 22 to cast ballots on a USDA “final decision” amending those orders. Members of a cooperative may not receive a ballot if their cooperative tells the USDA that they plan to bloc vote on behalf of their members.
