diff --git a/conda-forge.yml b/conda-forge.yml
index 2fed925c3..6301732f6 100644
--- a/conda-forge.yml
+++ b/conda-forge.yml
@@ -6,8 +6,5 @@ github:
   tooling_branch_name: main
 provider:
   linux_ppc64le: travis
-conda_pkg_format: 2
 azure:
   store_build_artifacts: true
-conda_build:
-  pkg_format: '2'
diff --git a/recipe/conda_forge_ci_setup/build_utils.py b/recipe/conda_forge_ci_setup/build_utils.py
index 9633259d3..39621a74c 100644
--- a/recipe/conda_forge_ci_setup/build_utils.py
+++ b/recipe/conda_forge_ci_setup/build_utils.py
@@ -112,15 +112,24 @@ def maybe_use_dot_conda(feedstock_root):
     if os.path.exists(os.path.join(feedstock_root, "conda-forge.yml")):
         with open(os.path.join(feedstock_root, "conda-forge.yml")) as f:
             repo_config = safe_load(f)
-        pkg_format = repo_config.get("conda_pkg_format", None)
+        pkg_format = repo_config.get("conda_build", {}).get("pkg_format", None)
         if pkg_format is not None:
-            try:
+            call([
+                "conda", "config", "--env", "--set",
+                "conda_build.pkg_format", str(pkg_format)
+            ])
+
+            # set compression level for v2 format
+            zlev = repo_config.get(
+                "conda_build", {}
+            ).get(
+                "zstd_compression_level", 16
+            )
+            if zlev is not None and str(pkg_format) == "2":
                 call([
                     "conda", "config", "--env", "--set",
-                    "conda_build.pkg_format", str(pkg_format)
+                    "conda_build.zstd_compression_level", str(zlev)
                 ])
-            except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
-                pass
 
 
 @click.command()