Release No. 011-03

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2003 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued an interim order amending the current pooling provisions of the Central milk marketing order. The tentative final decision for the Central order, issued Nov. 8, 2002, was approved by dairy farmers.

This interim order amends pooling standards to prevent the inappropriate pooling of milk on the Central order. The approved amendments eliminate the ability to simultaneously pool milk on the Central milk order and on a State-operated order that has marketwide pooling. The interim order also will: establish lower but year-round supply plant performance standards; not consider the volume of milk shipments to distributing plants regulated by another Federal milk order as a qualifying shipment on the Central order; exclude from receipts diverted milk made by a pool plant to another pool plant in determining pool plant diversion limits; and, establish a "net shipments" provision for milk deliveries to distributing plants.

The interim order will be published in the Feb. 12 Federal Register and becomes effective on March 1, 2003. For additional information about the decision, contact: Donald R. Nicholson, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, P.O. Box 14650, Shawnee Mission, KS 66285-4650; Tel. (913) 495-9300; email: donald.nicholson@fmmacentral.com