Release No. 177-02

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 30, 2002 - The United States Department of Agriculture today announced a public hearing to consider changes to the Northeast Federal milk marketing order. The hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2002, at the Embassy Suites Hotel Alexandria, 1900 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, Va. 22314.

Proposals will include establishing marketwide service payments to offset the costs of balancing the market's Class I needs, establishing year-round shipping standards for supply plant pool qualification, establishing a standard that at least two-days' milk production of a dairy farmer be physically received at a pool plant before the balance of production is eligible for diversion, establishing limits on the amount of milk that a pool plant may divert, eliminating the "split plant" feature for pool supply plants, and making minor changes to reporting and payment dates.

For additional information contact: Erik F. Rasmussen, Northeast Market Administrator; USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs; P. O. Box 1478 (Fort Point Station) Boston, MA 02205-1478; Tel. (617) 542-1478; e-mail: maboston@fedmilk1.com.