National Dairy Equity Act of 2004

The National Dairy Equity Act of 2004 proposed a significant restructuring of how dairy farmers receive financial support by dividing the United States into five distinct regional marketing areas. Under this system, regional boards would have the authority to set "over-order" prices—minimum prices for fluid milk that are higher than federal standards—to help stabilize income for local farmers.

For everyday citizens, this bill aimed to support the economic viability of small and mid-sized dairy farms by ensuring they received more consistent payments during market fluctuations. While the bill sought to protect the domestic milk supply and rural economies, the establishment of these regional price premiums and processor fees could have influenced the retail price of milk for consumers. Although introduced in 2004, this legislation did not advance past the committee stage and never became law.