The American Farm Bureau’s Federal Milk Marketing Order Working group released their recommendations this week on priorities for milk pricing reform. South Dakota Dairy Producer’s President Marv Post says it’s positive that group looked at that and that it’s time those orders were modernized and updated.

There’s been no substantial changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Order in almost 20 years. Post says the group’s recommendation on expanding price discovery would be a good change.

Farm Bureau’s group recommended allowing modified bloc voting which would allow co-op members to vote independently on FMMO issues. Post agrees with that in that it’s important dairy producers and processors work together and share Federal Milk Marketing order benefits.

Post and the Farm Bureau committee members both believe modernizing the Federal Milk Marketing Order system will result in improved prices paid to farmers.