The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 6 : Agriculture

Chapter 161 : Vermont Milk Commission

Subchapter 001 : VERMONT MILK COMMISSION

• § 2927. Interstate conferences and compacts

  The Commission shall have power to confer and agree with legally constituted similar boards or authorities of other states, or agencies of the federal government, and to adopt necessary rules to effect a uniformity in regulation and ensure an adequate and proper supply of fluid dairy products in Vermont; also to confer with similar boards or other authorities of other states or of the United States with respect to uniform milk control of milk produced in this State and handled in interstate commerce and may exercise all the powers set forth in this section for such purpose as well as, but not limited by, the following powers:

  (1) To conduct joint investigations and hearings and to issue joint or concurrent orders or enter into agreements or compacts subject to congressional approval and amendments to agreements or compacts. Also to employ or designate a joint agent or agencies to enforce such order or compacts. No such compact or order or any amendment to such order shall be effective, however, until the Commission finds that it is approved by two- thirds of the producers of this State whose milk is consumed in whole or in part in an area designated by the compact.

  (2) To make rules and orders and prescribe procedures for ascertaining approval of producers, where required, by stipulation, direct referendum, or otherwise as the commission may determine.

  (3) To require payment by handlers of their pro rata shares of the expenses involved in the operation of such order or compact.

  (4) To provide for classification of milk in accordance with the form in which it is used or moved with uniform minimum prices or methods of fixing such prices for each class; for payment to all producers and associations of producers delivering milk to handlers of uniform prices irrespective of the use made by the handler to whom delivered, subject to adjustments for grade, location, and butterfat content; for adjustment by the handlers with the joint agent in order to ensure uniformity in and equalization of prices as between producers and handlers; compensation for services to producers; and to make such joint rules by compact or otherwise as may be incidental to the foregoing and not inconsistent thereto and as may be necessary to effectuate the powers enumerated in this section. (Added 1965, No. 175, § 45; amended 1991, No. 17, § 8(a), eff. April 4, 1991; 2017, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 30; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 126, eff. July 1, 2022.)