The Market for Class II Milk in Oklahoma, Kansas and Western Missouri

Excerpts from the report: This report presents an analysis of the market organization and structure for "surplus" milk in the south central area of the United States. This "surplus" is milk which qualifies for, but is excess to, sales of Class I, or fluid, milk under the Federal milk marketing orders. At the time of the study, these markets were Kansas City and Neosho Valley, in Kansas and Missouri j Topeka and Wichita, in Kansas; and Oklahoma City and Tulsa-Muskogee, in Oklahoma. The facilities available for processing milk into nonfluid products reflect the accumulated past decisions of processors. The extent to which such facilities are currently used, on the other hand, measures the nature of the handlers’ responses to current prices for milk and the market for nonfluid products. This study was made to determine these past and current factors, as well as other pertinent information such as procurement and disposition practices. A knowledge of these components, combined with findings in other phases of this overall project, will provide a better understanding of the problems involved in improving the pricing and marketing of milk in this area.