What is "utilization rates"

n. (plural of utilization rate English)

In United States agricultural policy, utilization rates refer to the percentage of milk in federal milk marketing orders that is used in each of the classes: Class IV (butter and nonfat dry milk), Class III (cheese), Class II (all other manufactured products), Class I (milk used for fluid consumption). Utilization rates serve as weights for determining the weighted average price, or blend price, received by dairy farmers within a region each month.