Release No. 260-06

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

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 Upper Midwest milk marketing order. This rule is based on testimony and evidence given at a public hearing held in Bloomington, Minn., Aug. 16-19, 2004.

The permanently adopted amendments: establish a limit on the volume of milk a handler may pool during the months of April through February to 125 percent of the volume of milk pooled in the prior month; establish a limit on the volume of milk a handler may pool during the month of March to 135 percent of the volume of milk pooled in the prior month; and allow the market administrator to increase the maximum administrative assessment up to 8 cents per hundredweight on all pooled milk if necessary to maintain the required fund reserves.

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 pooled on the Upper Midwest 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:

H. Paul Kyburz

Market Administrator USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

Suite 210

4570 West 77th Street

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55435-5037

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