CONSEQUENCES OF PROPOSED POLICY CHANGES IN FEDERAL MILK MARKET ORDER REGULATION

Questions about the impacts of Federal milk marketing orders have been raised by many groups including dairy farmers, processors, consumers and government agencies. There are differences of opinion as to the objectives of milk orders. For example, some groups would place more or less emphasis on minimizing consumer expenditures for milk, on insuring adequate milk supplies, on stabilizing prices and on increasing income of dairy farmers. Persons affected by milk order regulation usually have limited information about the consequences of current or proposed provisions of orders. They are thus uncertain about changes in regulation which would be consistent with their objectives