WUD members are being urged to speak out at the May 31 CDFA hearing in Sacramento on the petition filed by Western United Dairymen that seeks modification of the whey value portion of the Class 4b formula. The hearing on May 31 and June 1 in Sacramento will consider WUD’s petition and another petition filed by a group supporting the same changes requested by WUD. The workshop will be held in the Department Auditorium, 1220 N Street, Sacramento beginning at 9 a.m.  WUD President Tom Barcellos urged members to attend the hearing and express their views to the CDFA hearing board. “California dairy families have an opportunity to speak out on a very important pricing issue at this hearing,” noted Barcellos. “It is important that the CDFA hear directly from those who are most affected by these pricing policies.”  WUD says the adjustments requested “would result in a Class 4b whey value that more closely tracks the market direction of the Class III whey value, thus bringing California and national pricing into the reasonable and sound relationship required under the Code.” WUD proposes modifying the current sliding scale in the Class 4b formula to allow the whey factor to more closely reflect the whey value generated by the current Class III formula. Dairy producers are encouraged to attend the hearing and participate. May 25, 2012 WUD Friday Update