§ 8772. Dairy forward pricing program
(a)
Program required
The Secretary shall establish a program under which milk producers and cooperative associations of producers are authorized to voluntarily enter into forward price contracts with milk handlers.
(b)
Minimum milk price requirements
Payments made by milk handlers to milk producers and cooperative associations of producers, and prices received by milk producers and cooperative associations, in accordance with the terms of a forward price contract authorized by subsection (a), shall be treated as satisfying—
(1)
all uniform and minimum milk price requirements of subparagraphs (B) and (F) of paragraph (5) of section
608c of this title; and
(c)
Milk covered by program
(1)
Covered milk
The program shall apply only with respect to the marketing of federally regulated milk that—
(2)
Relation to Class I milk
To assist milk handlers in complying with paragraph (1)(A) without having to segregate or otherwise individually track the source and disposition of milk, a milk handler may allocate milk receipts from producers, cooperatives, and other sources that are not subject to a forward contract to satisfy the obligations of the handler with regard to Class I milk usage.
(d)
Voluntary program
(1)
In general
A milk handler may not require participation in a forward pricing contract as a condition of the handler receiving milk from a producer or cooperative association of producers.
(2)
Pricing
A producer or cooperative association described in paragraph (1) may continue to have their [1] milk priced in accordance with the minimum payment provisions of the Federal milk marketing order.
(e)
Duration
[1] So in original. Probably should be “its”.