Who has an active voice in determining minimum milk prices through public hearings under Federal Milk Orders?

The correct answer is that milk handlers have an active voice in determining minimum milk prices through public hearings under Federal Milk Orders. In the context of the Federal Milk Marketing Orders, milk handlers are defined as individuals or businesses that buy milk from producers and sell it to processors, retailers, or other customers. They participate in public hearings to advocate for their interests and the interests of the market they serve.

During these hearings, handlers present data, analyze market conditions, and make arguments regarding price levels, which can impact both the producers and the consumers in the dairy industry. This process is critical because it establishes the minimum prices that dairy farmers will receive for their milk, thus influencing the entire supply chain. While dairy farmers and consumers also have a stake in these discussions, milk handlers have the formal role of providing input and evidence in the regulatory process that shapes these pricing structures.