Milk produced and marketed in the 11 states in the southeastern U.S. is pooled on the Appalachian, Southeast and Florida Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs).

Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed guidance allowing plant-based beverages to use "milk” in labels and marketing, multiple dairy state lawmakers have introduced a bill to nullify it.

March 2023’s Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) advanced Class I base price moved lower, falling below $19 per hundredweight for the first time since November 2021.

U.S. dairy exports finished what was an already stellar year with gusto, according to a monthly market update from the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC).

• U.S. establishing second USMCA dispute panel on Canadian dairy TRQ policies
• WOTUS lawsuit hearing set
• USDA launches Cattle Contracts Library
• FDA testing feed samples for PFAS
• USDA proposal keeps low-fat flavored milk as option in schools 
• Booker seeks more AFO oversight

Update highlights

• January FMMO Class III-IV prices lower
• Fed raises interest rate
• GDT index rises
• Ag producer sentiment starts year stronger
• Coming up

October 2022 “mailbox” prices averaged about $1.04 per cwt less than announced average “all-milk” price for the same month.

Digest highlights

• Hearing set to consider southeast U.S. FMMO proposals
• Farmers sought for study about how they balance children and work
• JDS: Milk’s packaging influences its flavor
• Other news, briefly

Digest highlights

• USDA announces second round of PMVAP payments
• $100 million Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program announced
• WOTUS lawsuit filed
• IDFA adds economist, policy support
• USDA updates organic enforcement rule
• 2025-30 Dietary Guideline Advisory Committee named
• USDA seeks comment on proposed animal disease traceability regulations
• Animal welfare group wants increased regulation of ‘custom-exempt’ slaughter operations
• Other news, briefly