Release No. 075-05

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202)720-8998

Billy.cox@usda.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 11, 2005 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a final rule implementing amendments to the Northeast Federal milk marketing order. Producers of the Northeast milk market approved these amendments.

The amendments to the Northeast order will: revise certain reporting and payment date provisions; establish year-round supply plant performance standards; eliminate the split-plant provision; establish a one day touch-base provision; establish explicit limits on the amount of milk a pool plant may divert to nonpool plants; exclude milk received by supply plants from producers not eligible to be pooled on the Northeast order from the total volume of milk used to satisfy supply plant performance standards; prohibit the ability to simultaneously pool the same milk on the order and on a marketwide pool administered by another government entity; and grant authority to the market administrator to adjust the touch-base standard and diversion limits as market conditions warrant. The final rule will be published in the April 12 Federal Register and will become effective May 1, 2005.

For additional information about the rule contact: Erik F. Rasmussen, Northeast Market Administrator, USDA-AMS-Dairy, P.O. Box 51478, Boston, MA 02205-1478; phone: 617-737-7199; email: erasmussen@fedmilk1.com.