by Dennis Halladay, Hoard’s Dairyman Western Editor - - Over the years, nothing has repeatedly brought out the spirit of cooperation between dairy cooperatives like low milk prices and tough times. Adversarial attitudes arrive when times are good, but working together flourishes when everyone’s survival is threatened. Kumbaya. Bad times are back in California now, which may be one reason why the state’s leading co-ops, plus both producer and processor organizations, are holding hands and asking that the state’s 4b (cheese and whey products) pricing formula be changed to put more money into producers’ pockets. Specifically, they’re pushing in unison to close at least some of the wide divide that is typical between California’s 4b price and the comparable Class III price in Federal Milk Marketing Orders. For producers in the nation’s largest milk-producing state, the total gap represents about $35 million per month. (more) June 29, 2012 Hoard’s Dairyman