Agricultural Marketing Service
 
USDA Announces Final Rule to Amend Mideast
 
Release No.. 258-06

 
Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998
becky.unkenholz@usda.gov
Billy Cox (2020 &20-8998
billy.cox@usda.gov

 
WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 30, 2006 - The U. S. Department of Agriculture today announced a final rule that permanently adopts amendments to the pooling provisions of the Mideast milk marketing order. These amendments were previously discussed in a recommended decision. This rule is based on testimony and evidence given at a public hearing held in Wooster, Ohio, from March 7-10, 2005.

 
The permanently adopted amendments: establish a limit on the volume of milk a handler may pool during the months of April through February to 115 percent of the volume of milk pooled in the prior month; and establish a limit on the volume of milk a handler may pool during the month of March to 120 percent of the volume of milk pooled in the prior month.

 
These amendments will assist in identifying the milk of those producers who regularly and consistently service the fluid needs of the market and subsequently have all of their milk pooled and priced under the order.

 
A majority of producers that pool on the Mideast order approved these amendments which become effective Dec. 1, 2006. The final rule appears in today’s Federal Register

 
For additional information about the decision contact:

 
David Z. Walker
Market Administrator USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs
P.O. Box 5102
1325 Industrial Parkway North
Brunswick, Ohio 44212
Tel. (330) 225-4758; email: dwalker@fmmaclev.com