Organic dairy farmers are taking legal action against the federal government, arguing that current milk pricing rules unfairly disadvantage their operations.
National Beef Wire reports members of the Coalition for Organic Dairy Exemption have filed multiple lawsuits challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal Milk Marketing Order system.
The farmers are seeking an exemption from the program and compensation for payments they say have been improperly collected and redistributed to conventional dairy producers.
Organic producers contend the system diverts revenue away from their operations despite strong growth in consumer demand.
“The federal government has locked in an updated dairy pricing regulation that actively harms organic dairy farmers,” said Elvin Ranck, an organic dairy farmer involved in the case. “It systematically siphons revenue generated from organic dairy sales and redistributes it to non-organic dairy producers.”
Supporters of the lawsuits argue that reforming the system could help organic farmers reinvest in production and better meet increasing market demand.
