Giving Thanks, Annual Meeting Success and FMMOs Update

Dear Friend,

Earlier this month, Dairy Council of California hosted the Annual Industry Meeting, along with Dairy Institute of California and California Milk Processor Board. We kicked off the Napa, California, event with a fun welcome reception and bowling. It was a great way to network, connect and get to know each other better outside of our work roles.

We held a robust board meeting, welcoming new members Preston Fernandes and John Vanderpoel, as well as appointing Jim O’Shea from Super Store Industries as a new member to the board and appointing Michael Oosten as a member at large to the executive committee. We were also able to officially roll out our new brand and share timely updates and achievements to date.

We ended the meeting with a panel session of California dairy leaders Katie Davey (Dairy Institute), Steve James (California Milk Processor Board), John Talbot (California Milk Advisory Board), Michael Boccadoro (Dairy Cares) and myself. During the session, we shared how we work together on behalf of the industry, as well as our unique contributions to the dairy community. We look forward to hosting the event again next year with our dairy community partners.

We're Moving

As of December 1, 2024, Dairy Council of CA will be headquartered in a new, smaller office space without an on-site warehouse. Please update your records with our new address:

Dairy Council of California
3900 Lennane Drive, Suite 225
Sacramento, CA 95834

Federal Milk Marketing Orders: Summary of Key Reforms Final Rule

The USDA issued its final rule to modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Orders program on November 12, 2024. A preview version of the final decision can be found here.

Key updates include:

• Class I Pricing: Reverting to the “higher-of” method for Class I mover pricing to better protect farmers and creating a new pricing approach for Extended Shelf Life milk.
• Protein Price Formula: Removing barrel cheese from the protein price formula to better reflect actual cheese production.
• Milk Composition Factors: Updating formulas to account for changes in milk component levels since 2000.
• Make Allowances: Adjusting manufacturing allowances to reflect increased processing costs.
• Class I Differentials: Revising differentials to address increased costs of milk delivery to fluid processing plants.

The final step is a referendum this winter, when eligible dairy farmers and cooperatives will vote to adopt or terminate the amendments.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is holding a series of informational webinars on the final decision and referendum process via Zoom, with the next webinar scheduled for November 25 at 8 a.m. PST. No registration is required. Click here to access the Zoom webinar link at scheduled time.

2024 State of the Dairy Industry Webinar

Earlier this month, I participated in a webinar with a panel of dairy industry leaders to discuss the 2024 state of the dairy industry for Dairy Foods magazine. Alongside partners from the National Dairy Council, The Dairy Alliance and California Dairies Inc., we discussed the trends, successes and challenges currently facing the dairy industry.

Learn more and listen to the webinar here.

Upcoming Webinar: CARB Regulations

California Department of Food and Agriculture is hosting a webinar in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to educate the agriculture industry on how CARB regulations could impact operations, especially those related to transportation, logistics and equipment. To help you and your partners better understand these changes, you are invited to join a Zoom webinar on Friday, December 6, at 10 a.m. PST.

Register online here.

Improving Nutrition Security: Highlights From My First 1,000 Days Initiative

Dairy Council of CA is proud to share highlights from My First 1,000 Days: A Dairy Initiative, a pilot project funded by Legacy Health Endowment to enrich the lives of families with children under age two. Piloted in Merced and Stanislaus counties, this one-year initiative provided essential dairy nutrition for young children and crucial support to families.

Read the full summary here.

Recognize a Champion Advancing Access to Dairy! 

Do you know someone actively working to improve access to nutritious milk and dairy foods and agriculture education? Whether it's a community leader, dairy advocate, farm-to-school educator—or even yourself—now is the time to celebrate their contributions with the 2024–2025 Let’s Eat Healthy Leadership Award!

All submissions are welcome, including self, peer, team and organizational nominations. The deadline to submit is 11:59 p.m. on December 6, 2024.

Learn more here.

Spotlight on Dairy Nutrition Research and Media

• Science Commentary: “Dairy Milk: There Are Alternatives but No Equivalents,” a new review of current research, finds that while plant-based milk alternatives are designed to mimic dairy milk in terms of use, they are unable to mimic the natural and complex matrix of dairy milk. Read the full article here.
• Study: Published as “Whole Milk Intake Is Associated With Lower Body Weight and Body Mass Index in American Adults,” new original research found that whole milk intake was also positively associated with desire to lose weight among adults. Read the full study here.

Happy Thanksgiving

It is the season of gratitude, a time to be thankful and appreciate all the good things in our lives. Research shows practicing gratitude has both mental and physical benefits and can improve overall well-being. So, it’s a practice we can keep all year long for our own health and happiness.

I am so grateful for the dairy community’s commitment to sustainable nutrition. This commitment is shown through being stewards of the land, ensuring animal care and producing delicious and nutritious dairy foods for families to enjoy across the Golden State and around the world.

I am sending out best wishes to all of you. Enjoy special times with your friends, family and loved ones. Happy Thanksgiving!