The Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing is now closed. All final arguments had to be submitted by 1 April. From 23 August 2023 through 30 January 2024, there were 49 days of hearings, the longest on record, with more than 12,000 pages of transcribed oral arguments in addition to all written documents submitted for the record as exhibits and final and closing arguments. Unlike other regulatory changes, the process is conducted in a legal setting presided over by an administrative law judge. USDA now has until 1 July to review all briefs and make its recommendations based on the petitions and testimony, after which there will be a final comment period before dairy producers get to vote. In all, there were 21 proposals put forth in fi...

TAGS – Livestock, North America