What is required for a Federal Milk Marketing Order to be authorized?

A Federal Milk Marketing Order is a regulatory framework designed to establish orderly marketing conditions for milk and dairy products. For an order to be authorized, it is necessary that it garners significant support among the producers who are directly affected by it. Specifically, approval must come from at least two-thirds of the affected supplying producers in the area. This requirement ensures that the order reflects a consensus among those who would be impacted, facilitating a system that fairly represents their interests and needs.

The necessity for a substantial majority reflects the order's impact on market conditions, pricing, and distribution, making it crucial for the producers to have a significant voice in its establishment. This process is designed to enhance stability and fairness in the dairy market, ensuring producers have a say in the frameworks that will govern their livelihoods.