Some dairy stakeholders are concerned about how USDA will handle the farmer referendum at the end of the Federal Milk Marketing Order reform process.

American Farm Bureau Federation economist Danny Munch tells Brownfield he’s hoping USDA comes out with informational documents to help farmers understand the referendum process. “There’s a lot of questions that are left unanswered, and if farmers are not able to vote if their milk is depooled just because of the month of when it’s depooled, that’s leaving them out of a vote and a process that’s supposed to reflect the interest of farmers.”

Munch says farmers whose milk has been taken out of the marketing pool by their processor at the time of the referendum might not be allowed to vote. “So, if all of the sudden, they’re not able to vote on things that affect how they’re going to be paid in the long run, that’s a loss for our producers and a loss for how the system works.”

Munch says it’s also unclear if USDA will allow modified block voting in the referendum, where farmers can either vote for themselves or let their cooperative vote on their behalf.

Munch says there is still plenty of time for USDA to clarify the referendum guidelines during the comment period before submitting their final rule for farmers to vote on.  That final rule is expected in mid-November.

USDA held a 49-day-long hearing last fall and winter as producers and processors made proposals and defended their positions.  There are 11 regional milk marketing orders.  If farmers vote down USDA’s final rule, it will eliminate the entire marketing order in their region.

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