To assure ample supplies of agricultural products, maintain adequate producer prices, and provide consumers with quality products at reasonable prices. All funds collected are remitted to the Commodity Credit Corporation to partially offset the costs of the dairy price support. Marketing orders are issued by the Secretary of Agriculture only after a public hearing where milk, fruit and vegetable producers, marketers, and consumers testify, and after farmers vote approval through a referendum.
Dairy farmers are the primary applicants.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. Subject to time required to hold public hearings, investigations and to conduct a referendum. About 1 year after start of public hearings. For dairy products, the orders establish orderly marketing conditions in the sale of milk by dairy farmers to handlers, whereas fruit, vegetable, nut, and grass seed, are established to regulate the quantity and quality of products sold in commercial channels. Financial and program audits pertaining to marketing agreements and order transactions are made periodically.