Regulatory Updates, Research, and More

Dear Friend,

As we reflect on a successful National Dairy Month, we are eager to embark upon our new fiscal year. Dairy Council of California continues to educate and advocate on the health benefits of milk and dairy foods for children and communities. Below are some notable updates, articles and resources that the dairy community may find useful. 

Regulatory Update: Opportunity to Provide Public Comment

Federal Milk Marketing Order – Next Steps

The USDA has proposed amendments to the pricing formulas for Federal Milk Marketing Orders after following extensive industry feedback. These changes include updates to milk composition factors, revisions to the base Class I skim milk pricing and adjustments to manufacturing allowances for cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk and dry whey. Additionally, USDA recommends removing certain cheese prices from the Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting Program and updating Class I differential values to better align with current market costs.

Below is a summary of the changes:

This recommended decision proposes amendments to five categories of milk pricing:

1. Milk Composition Factors. Update the factors to 3.3% true protein, 6% other solids and 9.3% nonfat solids.
2. Surveyed Commodity Products. Remove 500-pound barrel cheddar cheese prices from the Dairy Products Mandatory Reporting Program (DPMRP) survey and rely solely on the 40-pound block cheddar cheese price to determine the monthly average cheese price used in the formulas.
3. Class III and Class IV Formula Factors. Update the manufacturing allowances to Cheese: $0.2504; Butter: $0.2257; Nonfat Dry Milk (NFDM): $0.2268; and Dry Whey: $0.2653. This decision also proposes updating the butterfat recovery factor to 91%.
4. Base Class I Skim Milk Price. Update the formula as follows: The base Class I skim milk price would be the higher-of the advanced Class III or Class IV skim milk prices for the month. In addition, adopt a Class I extended shelf life (ESL) adjustment equating to a Class I price for all ESL products equal to the average-of mover, plus a 24-month rolling average adjuster with a 12-month lag.
5. Class I and Class II differentials. Keep the $1.60 base differential and adopt modified location-specific Class I differential values.

The proposed rule will be available for comment until September 13th, 2024.

California's dairy community is encouraged to act and provide public comment on these proposed changes. Your input is vital to ensuring fair and effective milk pricing.

Click here to provide your public comment

Spotlight on Dairy Nutrition Research and Media

Dairy Council of CA Co-Authors Study: Optimizing Nutrition Services for Pregnant Women and Young Children

Dairy Council of California, in partnership with University of California, Irvine and University of California, Davis, has published a study in the Wiley Online Library titled “California Provider and Advocate Perspectives About Opportunities to Optimize Nutrition Services and Resources in the First 1000 Days.” Equitable access to nutritious foods, including milk and dairy foods, is especially important during pregnancy through age 2 years, shaping a child’s physical and mental development. The study assesses nutrition services and resources provided to caregivers and families across diverse settings in California and opportunities to strengthen nutrition security during the first 1,000 days of life. Learn more and read the study here: https://hubs.la/Q02CFyNs0

National Dairy Month Interviews

June was a significant month for the Dairy Council of California, marked by National Dairy Month and I participated in two broadcast interviews to spread the positive message of milk and dairy foods. 

Audacy Broadcasting Radio Host, Doug Thomas, interviewed me about Dairy Council of CA and its impactful work. The interview played across six Northern California radio stations and showcased not only the work of Dairy Council of CA, but also the benefits of dairy products and the importance of dairy in sustainable nutrition across the lifespan.

Furthermore, check out the most recent episode of the podcast “Flipping the Table: Honest Conversations about Food & Farming.” In this episode, I joined Michael Dimock with Roots of Change and Cody Nicholson Stratton, a 6th generation organic dairy farmer, to explore how California dairy is embracing opportunities and meeting the challenges for today and into the future

Listen to both interviews here

Dairy Processing Magazine: Functional Health Benefits of Dairy Foods 

Dairy Council of CA’s nutrition expertise was highlighted in the recent edition of Dairy Processing Magazine, in the article “Seeking Functionality.” This informative article explores the diverse range of functional health and wellness benefits that consumers across their lifespan are seeking, which dairy foods can uniquely provide.

Study: Increased Redemption of WIC Benefits Linked to Increased Intake of Yogurt and Whole Milk

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the relationship between the redemption of WIC benefits and children’s intake of select WIC foods. Researchers analyzed the 2023 California Statewide WIC Survey, which was conducted with caregivers of WIC-participating children ages 1–4 years. They concluded that a 25% higher redemption of WIC benefits led to a higher intake frequency for cereal, whole-grain bread, yogurt and whole milk. Researchers concluded that the promotion of benefit redemption, coupled with nutrition education efforts, could enhance the dietary impacts of WIC participation. This study highlights the need for ongoing education on the important role of dairy foods in federal meal programs.

If you have questions, concerns or feedback you would like to share, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,
Amy DeLisio, CEO
Dairy Council of California
adelisio@DairyCouncilofCA.org