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June 14, 2023 

Dana H. Coale 

Deputy Administrator, 

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, 

STOP-0225 Room 2530 

1400 Independence Ave., SW 

Washington, DC 20250-0225 

FMMOhearing@usda.gov. 

Re: Class III Pricing Formula Proposal 

Dear Deputy Administrator Coale: 

On behalf of the family dairy farmer members of the California Dairy Campaign (CDC), we 

respectfully submit a proposal to modify the Class III pricing formula to include mozzarella 

cheese. 

California Dairy Campaign (CDC) is a grassroots organization of dairy farm families who work 

together on a range of issues, with a particular focus on improving milk pricing. CDC is a member 

organization of California Farmers Union (CFU), a state chapter of National Farmers Union 

(NFU), representing more than 230,000 farmers nationwide. 

We request the extension of the deadline proposed in the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Action Plan to facilitate the consideration of alternative pricing formulas that 

guarantee dairy farmers are paid according to current market rates. Therefore, we urge an 

extension of the USDA Action Plan until USDA can gather and analyze pricing data, and yields for 

a comprehensive range of dairy products, including mozzarella. This will guarantee that 

minimum milk prices reflect actual market values. 

In preparation for introducing our Class III formula change proposal, we requested information 

about mozzarella values, volumes, and specifications from USDA. The limited information USDA 

is currently authorized to provide confirmed that the volumes and values of mozzarella are 

significantly higher than cheddar cheese on which the Class III formula is based. We support the 

addition of mozzarella cheese to the Dairy Product Mandatory Price Reporting Program so total 

pounds sold, dollars received, price per pound, and moisture content is available to be included 

in the Class III price formula. 

At our request, USDA staff provided important information about a recent government 

procurement award that documents the sale of a low moisture, part-skim, string mozzarella 

325 Mitchell Avenue, Turlock, CA 95380 (209)632-0885 Fax: (209)632-5262 

P.O. Box 1957, Turlock, CA 95381 Email: cdc@californiadairycampaign.com 

www.californiadairycampaign.com www.californiafarmersunion.org 
 

 

 

 

 

 

delivered from July 1 through September 30, 2023, with an average price per pound of $3.6445, 

with a range of $3.5637 to $3.8898 per pound. The current cheddar cheese prices traded at the 

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) average less than $1.50 per pound. The sales data provided 

by USDA confirms that the mozzarella price is more than double that of average CME cheddar 

prices, even while considering shipping costs and other factors. We consider the purchase price 

for a government procurement award to be an important indicator of an applicable marketclearing price for mozzarella cheese. In addition, USDA provided information about mozzarella 

prices paid in Wisconsin which averaged more than $1 per pound above the average cheddar 

price. 

Unlike during the last federal order hearing when minimum pricing formulas were debated, the 

volume of mozzarella production is now greater than that of cheddar cheese. Yet, dairy farmers 

nationwide are entirely excluded from this profit opportunity because mozzarella is not included 

in the Class III price formula. The current Class III formula is based on the price of cheddar cheese, a 

lower-price and lower-moisture cheese. We believe the current end-product pricing system for cheese 

should be revised to be more market-oriented. Mozzarella is the cheese that is produced in the highest 

volume today, and we support incorporating mozzarella into the Class III formula to ensure that 

current values and specifications are incorporated in the price that producers receive. Processors have 

realized the profitability of mozzarella cheese, and we believe producers should be able to realize the 

profitability of this product as end-product pricing formulas intend. 

Attached is the FAMILY FARMING and DAIRY POLICY REFORM 2023 SPECIAL ORDER OF 

BUSINESS passed earlier this year at the National Farmers Union Annual Convention in San 

Francisco, CA. As the NFU Special Order indicates, we oppose the call for a federal milk marketing 

order hearing. According to the NFU Special Order, if a hearing is granted, it is essential that any 

modifications to the federal order minimum pricing formulas take into account the volume and 

value of all dairy products, particularly high-moisture cheeses such as mozzarella. 

We have requested information from USDA on the current sales data, yield factors, and volume of 

mozzarella cheese to be integrated into any Class III minimum pricing formula revision. Despite 

mozzarella cheese's increasing volume surpassing that of cheddar cheese, the current Class III 

pricing formula does not recognize this lucrative segment of the cheese market, and dairy 

farmers cannot benefit from this growing profit opportunity. 

We acknowledge the limitations faced by the USDA in gathering data on mozzarella production 

to include up-to-date dairy product information in the Class III federal order minimum pricing 

formula. We respectfully request that the USDA extend the hearing timeline until access to 

audited data on dairy product volumes, values, and yields for all milk classes in the federal order 

is available. Once more information is available about the value and volumes of mozzarella 

cheese and its various compositional requirements, we can add detail to our proposal about the 

most appropriate specifications, including moisture levels and other cheese characteristics to be 

added to the Class III pricing formula. 

In recent months, milk prices paid to dairy farmers across the country have plummeted to well 

below production costs, and we oppose any attempt to amend the federal milk marketing order 

minimum pricing formulas that would further lower milk prices paid. We write in opposition to 

petitions submitted by the International Dairy Foods Association, National Milk Producers 

Federation, and the Wisconsin Cheesemakers Association calling for increases in the 
 

 

 

 

manufacturing cost allowances or make allowances, which we firmly oppose. The United States 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires access to the information necessary to update the 

manufacturing cost allowances. USDA lacks the authority to conduct mandatory audits of 

manufacturing plants and access information about a wide range of dairy products. This dearth 

of information will lead to an unfair increase in the manufactured cost allowance, which we 

strongly oppose. 

We appreciate your attention in this regard and look forward to working with you on issues that 

affect California’s dairy farmers. Thank you in advance for your consideration of our request. 

Sincerely, 

Lynne McBride 

Executive Director 
1

FAMILY FARMING and DAIRY POLICY REFORM

2023 SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS

Although milk prices paid to dairy farmers improved in 2022, feed prices and input costs 

reached record highs reducing dairy farm profitability. Since 1992, the number of US dairy 

farms has decreased by 79 percent or more than 103,577 farms due to low dairy farm 

margins. To reduce dairy farm closures and improve the outlook for US dairy farmers, 

we call on Congress to pass a farmer-led incentive-based milk production growth plan 

to match milk supply with profitable market demand.

As a result of widespread market concentration and consolidation, dairy farmers have little if 

any choice about where to ship their milk further depressing milk prices paid due to a lack of 

competition. The federal milk marketing order system was set up in the 1930s to establish 

minimum prices paid to dairy farmers and guard against non-competitive and predatory 

practices of milk handlers. Prior to the establishment of the federal milk marketing order 

system, dairy farmers around the country were at the mercy of milk handlers who controlled 

milk prices paid. Because milk is a highly perishable product that must leave the farm each 

day, federal milk market order regulations are vital to ensure dairy farmers are paid a 

minimum price for the milk they produce. 

The last federal order hearing to consider major changes in the pricing formulas occurred 15 

years ago and the dairy market has grown dramatically more concentrated since then, making 

federal order minimum milk pricing more important than ever before. Dairy farmers do not 

have the ability to change milk handlers given the level of consolidation and concentration 

that exists today. Therefore, minimum milk prices must ensure that dairy farmers are paid a 

price that reflects the value of all milk and dairy products sold to sustain dairy farmers and 

foster a secure food supply for consumers.

 

During the 2018 farm bill, Congress made a change in the Class I formula that led to more than 

$1 billion in losses to dairy farmers nationwide. The losses that resulted from the Class I price 

change demonstrate that amendments to federal order pricing should be made through the 

12-step federal order hearing process, not through legislation. However, to immediately 

restore the Class I formula, we call on Congress to pass legislation to return to the higher 

value of Class III or Class IV instead of the average plus 74 cents.

Although the federal order system is set up to maximize dairy producer participation in the 

process, it is difficult if not impossible for dairy farmers to take a public position in opposition 
2

to that of their milk handler. Federal order hearings are made up of legions of lawyers and 

economists representing dairy processor interests that far outnumber dairy farmers and the 

organizations that represent them. For this reason, it is imperative that USDA convey added 

weight to positions taken by the limited number of dairy farmers willing to participate in 

public hearings. 

NFU opposes the call for a federal order hearing, but If a hearing is granted by the United 

States Department of Agriculture (USDA) NFU supports:

• Establishing a price discovery formula at the producer level through a growth 

management program that incentivizes matching production with market demand;

• Reforming all Class formulas to reflect the value and volume of all dairy products sold 

in the market today as current milk pricing formulas fail to reflect the actual market 

value of dairy products, particularly higher moisture, and higher value cheese 

products;

• Requiring mandatory participation of processors in an audited National Agricultural 

Statistics Service (NASS) survey and in an audited cold storage report; and

• Establishing a national make allowance that is adjustable to reflect the difference 

between milk prices and the producer’s cost of production. This allowance should be 

generated from the market, not deducted from the established price through endproduct pricing.