S4E42: “The PRB Meeting Happened On A Full Moon" | Anja Raudabaugh

The Skim:

In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Anja Raudabaugh, the CEO of Western United Dairies, discusses the Producer Review Board Meeting, which got spicy. 

Key topics include:

00:00 - Introduction

• November 17th is the next upcoming PRB meeting.

02:20 - Recap of PRB Meeting on October 30th

•  The PRB meeting discussed critical quota issues and housekeeping items.

•  The mandatory five-year marketing survey results were mixed, causing discussions.

•  Another major issue was the decision on what to do with about $5.2 million in reserves related to the quota program.

•  A hardship request from a dairy family was denied, leading to ongoing challenges within the PRB regarding such requests.

05:47 - Hardship Requests and Producer Involvement

• Discussion on hardship requests and the denial of a specific case.

• Anja encourages farmers to submit hardship requests if they believe it's the right decision, emphasizing the importance of farmers having a say in how their money is used.

08:07 - Petition to Terminate Quota Program

•  Explanation of the petition process initiated by Stop QIP to terminate the quota program.

• The PRB's division and the need for a special meeting on November 17th to discuss the petition.

• The contentious nature of the meeting, with various motions and recommendations being offered and debated.

11:32 - Survey Results and Next Steps

• Overview of the five-year QIP effectiveness survey and its results.

• The PRB's motions regarding the survey include recommending a re-vote and seeking additional technical assistance.

• The upcoming meeting on November 17th focuses on the termination petition, and producers are encouraged to participate.

• Producers are urged to get involved, write to the Secretary, and attend the critical meeting, emphasizing the current inflection point in the quota program.

22:37 - Closing Remarks

• Anja emphasizes the importance of robust attendance and producer involvement in the upcoming meeting.

RESOURCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

October PRB Meeting Recap - https://westernuniteddairies.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WUD-News-10.31.23-Digital.pdf

Upcoming PRB Meeting November 17th - 

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/NOTICE--PRB-Meeting---November-17th.html?soid=1114844705575&aid=r77KkMbr9uk

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If you have any questions about the episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

To volunteer for dairy tours, please contact Anja at [email protected] 

To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit https://westernuniteddairies.com.

Click the Link to become a member, https://westernuniteddairies.com/membership

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Website - https://westernuniteddairies.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wudairies

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Podcast | Seen and Herd 

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Western United Dairies Foundation

Website - ⁠https://wudfoundation.com⁠