Rulemaking Update
The Final Decision has been published in the Federal Register. Information on the Referendum is available below. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by December 31, 2024, and must be received by January 15, 2025. The Referendum Agent is the Market Administrator in the respective FMMOs.
Final Decision
- Final Decision- issued November 12, 2024
- Final Decision: Press Release
- National FMMO Final Decision Overview Live Webinar
Final Decision Supplemental Documents
- Regulatory Economic Impact Analysis (Final Decision) (pdf)
- Frequently Asked Questions (Final Decision)
- Webinar: Contents of the Final Decision
- Webinar: Proposed Base Class I Skim Milk ESL Adjustment
- Explainer: Proposed Base Class I Skim Milk ESL Adjustment (pdf)
- Explainer: What’s in the Final Decision? (pdf)
- Map: Current Class I Differentials (pdf)
- Map: Proposed Class I Differentials (Final Decision) (pdf)
- Map: Class I Differentials Changes – Current vs. Final Decision (pdf)
- Table: Current, Proposed, and Changes to Class I Differentials (Final Decision) (xlsx) - updated 11/12 at 3:30 pm
NOTE: USDA made slight modifications to the legends in the maps showing the proposed class I differentials and the changes in the class I differentials.
Referendum Process
Dairy farmers and cooperatives eligible to participate in the referendum will receive voting information after the final decision is published in the Federal Register. For more information, see Referendum Overview below:
Recommended Decision
- Recommended Decision – issued July 1, 2024
- Notice to Trade – published July 1, 2024
- Public Comments – submitted by September 13, 2024
Supplemental Documents
- Regulatory Economic Impact Analysis (Recommended Decision) (pdf)
- Frequently Asked Questions (Recommended Decision)
- Explainer: What’s in the Recommended Decision? (pdf)
- Computation Example: Proposed Base Class I Skim Milk ESL Adjustment (xlsx)
- Map: Current Class I Differentials (pdf)
- Map: Proposed Class I Differentials (Recommended Decision) (pdf)
- Map: Class I Differential Changes – Current vs. Proposed (Recommended Decision) (pdf)
- Table: Current, Proposed, and Changes to Class I Differentials (Recommended Decision) (xlsx)
- Steps of the Rulemaking Process
Post-Hearing Briefs:
NOTE: These briefs are provided as a courtesy. The Hearing Clerk maintains all official copies of documents filed.
- Agri-Mark, Inc. Brief (pdf)
- American Farm Bureau Federation Brief (pdf)
- Associated Milk Producers, Inc. Brief (pdf)
- CME Group Brief (pdf)
- Dairy Cooperative Marketing Association, Inc. Brief (pdf)
- Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative Brief (pdf)
- International Dairy Foods Association
- Brief filed 2/13/24 (pdf) - For appendices to this brief, please contact the Hearing Clerk’s office
- Brief filed 4/1/24 (pdf)
- Lamers Dairy, Inc. Brief (pdf)
- Leprino Foods Co. Brief (pdf)
- Maine Dairy Industry Association Brief (pdf)
- Midwest Dairy Coalition Brief (pdf)
- The Milk Innovation Group Brief (pdf)
- National All-Jersey Brief (pdf)
- National Milk Producers Federation Brief (pdf)
- New Dairy OPCO, LLC Brief (pdf)
- Select Milk Producers Brief (pdf)
- Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Brief (pdf)
Post-Hearing Documents
- MIG’s Response to ALJ’s Request in March 20, 2024, Ruling on Official Notice (pdf)
- Certification of Transcript (pdf)
- IDFA Response to ALJs’ Requests in March 20, 2024, Ruling: Office Notice Taken (pdf)
- National All-Jersey Response to ALJs’ Requests in March 20, 2024, Ruling: Office Notice Taken (pdf)
- NMPF Response to ALJ Requests in March 20, 2024, Ruling: Office Notice Taken (pdf)
- Ruling: Record Exhibits (pdf)
- Ruling Accepting as Argument the 2024 and Feb 23 and Mar 8 Filings and Attachments (pdf)
- MIG Procedural Objection to AFBF’s and NFU’s Request for Emergency Return to Higher-Of Class I Mover (pdf)
- Ruling: Official Notice taken (pdf)
Post Hearing Correspondence
- Brenda Cochran, dairy producer, September 5, 2024 email to AMS (pdf)
- Letter from Congressional members, June 26, 2024 (pdf)
- California Dairy Campaign Letter, February 16, 2024 (pdf)
- WI Farm Bureau, CA Farm Bureau & TX Farm Bureau letter (pdf)
- American Farm Bureau Federation letter, January 30, 2024 (pdf) & USDA Response (pdf)
- American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union letter (pdf) & USDA Response (pdf)
- Bill Rowell Letter (pdf) & USDA Response (pdf)
Transcript Corrections
- AMS Dairy Program Corrections (pdf)
- International Dairy Foods Association Corrections (pdf)
- Milk Innovation Group Corrections (pdf)
- National All-Jersey Corrections (pdf)
- National Milk Producers Federation Corrections (pdf)
- Select Milk Producers Corrections (pdf)
Hearing Documents
Notification to Hearing Clerk (pdf)
Notice to Trade – Published December 29, 2023
Notice to Reconvene Hearing, Published December 29, 2023
Notice to Trade – Published November 6, 2023
Notice to Reconvene Hearing, Published November 6, 2023
Notice to Trade – Published July 24, 2023
Hearing Notice, Published July 24, 2023
- FMMO 2023 Pricing Formula Hearing Proposed Regulatory Text Changes – Clean Version (pdf)
- FMMO 2023 Pricing Formula Hearing Proposed Regulatory Text Changes – Marked Up Version (pdf)
Administrative Law Judge Order - Denial of Request to Consider Additional Proposals (pdf)
Proposal and Action Plan Documents
Hearing and Exhibit Guidelines
- Webinar – How to prepare to participate in the hearing?
- Hearing and Exhibit Guidelines (pdf)
- Advanced Exhibit Submission and Hearing Schedules (pdf)
- Example – How to format your exhibit? (pdf)
- Best Practices – How to make your exhibit 508 compliant? (pdf)
- The hearing was held from August 23, 2023, to January 30, 2024, in Carmel, Indiana.
- Transcript corrections were due to FMMOHearing@usda.gov by 5:00pm ET on March 22, 2024.
- Briefs were received by 4:30pm Eastern Time on April 1, 2024.
- Mailing Address: Hearing Clerk, United States Department of Agriculture, STOP 9203—Room 1031, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9200. Email: SM.OHA.HearingClerks@usda.gov. Fax: (844) 325-6940. Phone: (202) 720-4443.