Release No. 175-06

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202)720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2006 – The U. S. Department of Agriculture today announced that it will reconvene a national public hearing to consider proposals seeking to amend the Class III and Class IV milk price formula manufacturing allowances applicable to all federal milk marketing orders. The hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 14 at the Holiday Inn Select, 15471 Royalton Road, Strongsville, Ohio 44136.

The public hearing originally was held Jan. 24-27 in Alexandria, Va. The purpose of reconvening this proceeding is to assure that any changes to manufacturing allowance factors used in federal order Class III and Class IV product price formulas are appropriate and reflective of manufacturing costs. Specifically, this proceeding is being reconvened to take into evidence only data on plant manufacturing costs compiled by Cornell University and other pertinent data that would be publicly available.

USDA has solicited and is currently receiving additional proposals regarding all aspects of the Class III and Class IV price formulas. These proposals are due on or before Sept. 30. USDA will hold an information session on these proposals after they have been received and analyzed.

The reconvened hearing notice will be published as a proposed rule in the Sept. 6, 2006, Federal Register. Copies of the hearing notice may be obtained from the USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, STOP 0231 - Rm. 2971, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C.

20250-0231. The reconvened hearing notice is available on AMS' web site: www.ams.usda.gov/dairy.

The reconvened hearing notice and additional information is available from the following market administrator offices:

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 18030, Louisville, KY 40261-0030

Tel. (502) 499-0040; email: friedly@malouisville.com

Florida and Southeast: Sue L. Mosley

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 491778, Lawrenceville, GA 30049

Tel. (770) 682-2501; email: smosley@fmmatlanta.com

Upper Midwest: H. Paul Kyburz

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

Suite 210, 4570 West 77th St., Minneapolis, MN 55435-5037

Tel. (952) 831-5292; email: pkyburz@fmma30.com

Central: Robert E. Vander Linden

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

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

Tel. (913) 495-9300; email: robert.vanderlinden@fmmacentral.com

Mideast: David Z. Walker

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 5102, Brunswick, OH 44212

Tel. (330) 225-4758; email: dwalker@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: J. Richard Fleming

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

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

Tel. (972) 245-6060;

email: sw.order@dallasma.com