Release No. 017—10

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

becky.unkenholz@ams.usda.gov

Billy Cox 202-720-8998

billy.cox@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued a final decision to amend the producer-handler definition in all federal milk marketing orders. These amendments were considered in a recommended decision published Oct. 21, 2009.

This decision amends the producer-handler definition of all federal milk marketing orders to limit exemption from pooling and pricing provisions of the orders to those producer-handlers with total route disposition and sales of packaged fluid milk products to other plants of 3 million pounds or less per month.

These amendments are subject to producer approval before they can be implemented on a permanent basis. The final decision amends all federal milk marketing orders. Each amended federal order must be approved either by two-thirds of producers supplying milk to the federal order or by producers who supply two-thirds of the milk to that order. If approved, USDA will issue a final rule.

For additional information about the decision contact:

Northeast: Erik F. Rasmussen

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 51478, Boston, MA 02205-1478

Tel. (617) 737-7199;

email: erasmussen@fedmilk1.com

Appalachian: Harold H. Friedly, Jr.

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 91528, Louisville, KY 40291-0528

Tel. (502) 499-0040;

email: friedly@malouisville.com

Florida and Southeast: Sue L. Mosley

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

1550 North Brown Road, Suite 120, Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Tel. (770) 682-2501;

email: smosley@fmmatlanta.com

Upper Midwest: H. Paul Kyburz

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

1600 West 82nd Street, Suite 200 Minneapolis, MN 55431-1420

Tel. (952) 831-5292;

email: pkyburz@fmma30.com

Central: David C. Stukenberg

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 14650, Shawnee Mission, KS 66285-4650

Tel. (913) 495-9300;

email: David.Stukenberg@fmmacentral.com

Mideast: Paul A. Huber

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 5102, Brunswick, OH 44212

Tel. (330) 225-4758;

email: phuber@fmmaclev.com

Pacific Northwest and Arizona: James R. Daugherty

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

1930-220th St., SE., Suite 102 Bothell, WA 98021-8471

Tel. (425) 487-6009;

email: jdaugherty@fmmaseattle.com

Southwest: Cary Hunter

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 110939, Carrollton, TX 75011-0939

Tel. (972) 245-6060;

email: sw.order@dallasma.com