Release No. 071-08

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

becky.unkenholz @usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

billy.cox@usda.gov

Washington, D.C., June 19, 2008 – The U. S. Department of Agriculture today issued a tentative final decision to amend the Class III and Class IV product price formulas in all Federal milk marketing orders. The decision was based on the record of the first session of a public hearing held in Strongsville, Ohio on February 26- March 2, 2007, a second session of a public hearing held in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 9-13, 2007, and a third session of a public hearing held in Pittsburgh, Pa., on July 9-11, 2007.

The decision would amend the manufacturing (make) allowances for cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk (NFDM) and dry whey. Specifically, this decision would adopt the following make allowances: cheese - $0.2003 per pound; butter - $0.1715 per pound; NFDM - $0.1678 per pound; and dry whey - $0.1991 per pound. This decision also proposes to increase the butterfat yield factor of the butterfat price formula from 1.20 to 1.211. These amendments are subject to producer approval before they can be implemented.

The tentative final decision will be published in the June 20 Federal Register. Public comments are due Aug. 19, 2008.

For additional information about the decision contact:

Northeast: Erik F. Rasmussen

USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs

P.O. Box 51478, Boston, MA 02205-1478

Tel. (617) 737-7199; email: eramussen@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-Las Vegas: 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