Chapter 3.5. Milk Pooling of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 21. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 3.5.

Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 62700) in conflict with this section or any pooling plan for market milk in effect under that chapter, effective January 1, 1994, each producer shall be paid the amounts determined in accordance with this section for his or her pool quota production and for all production in excess of his or her pool quota.
  (a) For all milk fat, whether or not equal to his or her pool quota, an amount determined by dividing the value of all milk fat in the pool by the amount of milk fat produced.
  (b) Transportation allowances that are provided for in the pooling plan shall not be deducted from the quota milk of any region, but shall be deducted from the total solids not fat pool revenue before any price is determined for quota and nonquota solids not fat.
  (c) Regional quota adjusters shall continue to be subtracted from the quota price in the established areas as specified in the pooling plan for market milk. However, the hundredweight price specified shall be converted to a solids not fat equivalent value, and the adjustments for the effect of those regional quota adjusters shall be applied to the solids not fat revenue.
  (d) After taking into consideration the effect of the regional quota adjusters, the solids not fat announced quota price for those areas in which there is no regional quota adjuster shall be nineteen and one-half cents ($0.195) per pound greater than the announced solids not fat price for all milk produced in excess of pool quota.

In calculating the pool value, the volume of milk that has been classified as restricted use market milk shall be credited to the handler at the class 4a or class 4b price, whichever is lower.

Except as provided in Section 62756, this chapter shall remain operative until the secretary certifies to the Secretary of State that producers have voted in a referendum to suspend the operation of this chapter.

The secretary may hold a public hearing at any time to consider whether this chapter shall be suspended, and shall hold a public hearing to review a petition requesting the suspension of this chapter signed by not less than 25 percent of the producers who produced not less than 25 percent of the total amount of fluid milk produced in this state during the preceding calendar month.

The secretary shall establish a period of 60 days in which to conduct the referendum. The secretary may extend the referendum period an additional 30 days if he or she determines that the additional time is needed to adequately conduct the referendum, and may prescribe additional procedures necessary to conduct the referendum.

(a) Each producer shall have one vote and the vote shall be individually cast in order to prevent block voting. The secretary shall prepare a ballot. The ballot form shall be substantially as follows:

Ballot

Shall Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 62750) of Part 3 of Division 21 of the Food and Agricultural Code be continued in effect?

Yes No

(b) In addition, the ballot shall include a statement of the voter' s total production during the calendar month next preceding the month of the commencement of the referendum period, where and to whom that production was sold or otherwise disposed, and the producer's name and address and pooling numbers.

(a) The secretary shall find that producers have assented to the continued operation of this chapter if the secretary finds on a statewide basis that not less than 51 percent of the total number of eligible producers in the state have voted in the referendum and that 51 percent or more of the total number of eligible producers who voted in the referendum and who produced 51 percent or more of the total amount of fluid milk produced in the state during the calendar month next preceding the month of the commencement of the referendum period by all producers who voted in the referendum, approve the continued operation of this chapter.
  (b) If the secretary finds that a vote favorable to the continued operation of this chapter has not been given, the secretary shall so certify to the Secretary of State and shall declare this chapter inoperative.
  (c) The secretary may reveal the names of producers whose votes have been received to both proponents and opponents of the continued operation of this chapter. However, whether individual producers voted for or against the continued operation of this chapter shall be kept confidential.

(a) If the continued operation of this chapter is not approved, the secretary shall continue in operation the pooling plan in effect on December 31, 1993.
  (b) Notwithstanding Section 62751, this section shall remain operative notwithstanding a vote by producers to suspend the operation of this chapter.