The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

Five Midwestern dairy groups that are evaluating solutions to federal milk pricing issues, which were aggravated by the pandemic, explained their comprehensive focus this week to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The groups — the Dairy Business Association, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Nebraska State Dairy Association and South Dakota Dairy Producers — said in a letter to Vilsack that if there were to be a Federal Milk Marketing Orders emergency hearing about reform, as some other organizations have called for, it’s important that it be broad in scope.

In April, the groups put forth a proposal called Class III Plus, aimed at creating long-term stability in fluid milk pricing and reducing the likelihood of negative producer price differentials, which began cutting into farmers’ revenue last year during the pandemic.

In this week’s letter, they said they “are not putting forward Class III Plus out of strong desire to have an FMMO hearing now. Instead, we are sharing it publicly and with USDA to show there are differences of opinion within the dairy community over how to proceed and because we think it is a better and more forward-thinking concept than what NMPF (National Milk Producers Federation) has said they plan to propose.”

NMPF’s plan, announced last month, would change the current Class I fluid milk price mover by adjusting the amount every two years based on conditions over the prior 24 months, with the current mover remaining the floor.

The groups say NMPF’s proposal would improve a few components of the current pricing structure, but largely focuses on the short term and revenue that farmers did not earn in 2020.

Class III Plus would tie the Class I price to the Class III (cheese) skim milk price plus an adjuster and do away with advanced pricing, a cause of the negative PPDs. The proposal is also revenue-neutral, therefore more equitable among farmers, processors and customers. The groups say it provides a way for farmers to recoup some of the revenue they might have missed out on in 2020, and also creates stability going forward, including protection from negative PPDs and better risk management ability.

“We believe in order reform, but we would prefer to tackle more than just Class I pricing if we are going to go to the trouble and effort of having a hearing with national scope,” the groups said in the letter. “Ultimately, the dairy community might not be ready yet to tackle a hearing with a broad scope, but we are working to prepare ourselves and our members for that discussion if and when it comes.”

About Dairy Business Association:

The Dairy Business Association is Wisconsin’s leading dairy advocacy group, championing smart and sensible regulations affecting the dairy community. The nonprofit organization is comprised of farmers, milk processors, vendors and other business partners who work collaboratively to ensure that dairy farms of all sizes have the support they need to keep America’s Dairyland strong. More information: www.dairyforward.com

About Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative:

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within their communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wis., is one of the top cooperatives in the country based on milk volume. More information: www.voiceofmilk.com

About Minnesota Milk:

Minnesota Milk Producers Association has been the grassroots organization for Minnesota’s dairy industry since 1977. Our strength comes from members working together and focusing on policy, education and membership. More information: www.mnmilk.org

About Nebraska State Dairy Association:

The Nebraska State Dairy Association has been the voice of Nebraska Dairy Farmers since 1885, working to promote growth, success and sustainability for the dairy industry in Nebraska. More information: www.nebraskamilk.org

About South Dakota Dairy Producers:

South Dakota Dairy Producers has been a voice for dairy in South Dakota since being formed in 2009, bringing dairy farmers together with suppliers and processors to represent all dairy farms regardless of size, operating structure, or location to promote success and sustainability into the future. More information: www.sddairyproducers.org