T he proposal to reduce the number of orders only accelerates ongoing trends. In 1965, there were 82 FMMOs. Right now we have 32 orders. K eeping the FMMO system appears to make sense. When asked what the world might be like without the system, producers are hard pressed to imagine the alternatives.
T here are a couple of things to consider when thinking about the future of milk marketing.
The need for the FMMOs is based on the existence of an adversarial relationship between milk producers and milk handlers. Government enforcement came about, in a large measure, because of the inclination toward greed and cheating. Issues of trust are dealt with by contract. Contract disputes are settled by the courts. As long as everyone lives up to the terms of the contract, there isn't much need for outside auditing.