Paul Sousa Recaps a Packed Day of Hearings and Hints at New Ideas for the Future

This week’s Seen & Herd podcast unpacks a busy day of CDFA proceedings from Cinco de Mayo, featuring an early morning hearing on Stop QIP Petition #5 and a pivotal afternoon PRB meeting.

• Stop QIP Petition #5: The morning session was largely procedural, with fewer than 10 individuals offering testimony on whether to end the quota program. The hearing transcript will be available within 30 days.

• PRB Meeting Highlights: The PRB welcomed new members and elected William Knight as Chair and Tony Nunes III as Vice Chair. Discussions included financial audits, IT system upgrades, and updates on a dismissed lawsuit alleging illegal takings under the QIP.

• New Bond Proposal: Perhaps the most eye-opening update was a confirmed inquiry into issuing a California state bond to retire quota. If pursued, this effort would follow a structure first proposed by the United Dairy Families of California, using current quota assessments to repay the bond over time.

• Referendum Countdown: With another Stop QIP referendum set for June, ballots are expected to arrive soon. Producers are reminded to update signatory info with CDFA to ensure their vote is counted.

• Hardship Drama: A series of hardship relief requests dominated the tail end of the meeting. After emotional testimony and several failed motions, most requests were ultimately denied or postponed, underscoring the program’s evolving definition of hardship and financial caution.

As June approaches, Western United Dairies encourages all producers—regardless of stance—to stay informed and ensure their participation in the process. Listen to the full episode for more detailed insights.

Read Paul’s in-depth recap article here.