Release No.136-06

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202)720-8998

Billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 6, 2006 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a final decision to permanently adopt amendments to the pooling provisions of the Central milk marketing order. This decision is based on testimony and evidence given at a public hearing held at Kansas City, Mo., Dec. 6-8, 2004.

The adopted amendments: increase supply plant performance standards; amend features of the “touch-base” provision; amend certain features of the “split plant” provision; and decrease the diversion limit standards of the order. The decision also adopts of a proposal that limits the volume of milk a handler can pool in a month to 125 percent of the total volume of milk pooled in the previous month.

USDA will conduct a vote on the amended order to determine producer approval. If producers approve the order as amended by this final decision, a final rule will follow to implement these changes on a permanent basis.

Robert E. Vander Linden

Market Administrator

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 14650

Shawnee Mission, KS 66285-4650

Tel. (913) 495-9300; email: market.administrator@fmmacentral.com