Agricultural Marketing Service


USDA Enjoined from Implementing Class III Butterfat Price

Release No. AMS-43-01 Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998 becky.unkenholz@usda.gov Billy Cox (202) 720-8998 billy.cox@usda.gov WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 2, 2001 - U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth enjoined USDA from implementing portions of the interim final amendments to Federal milk orders that became effective Jan.1, 2001. The Judge's order restores the butterfat and protein price formulas that were implemented under Federal order reform on Jan. 1, 2000, with the following changes: Incorporate the 16.5-cent make allowance for cheese and the 38-percent moisture adjustment for 500-pound barrel cheese adopted in the Jan. 1, 2001, interim final amendments. Incorporate the 11.5-cent make allowance for butter adopted in the Jan. 1, 2001, amendments in the formula for calculating the butterfat price applicable to both Class III and Class IV. Incorporate the Jan. 1, 2001, nonfat solids and other solids price formulas, based on the values of these components in nonfat dry milk and dry whey. The tentative final decision and interim rule responded to a Congressional mandate, included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000, to reconsider certain pricing formulas adopted in the final rule for the consolidation and reform of Federal milk orders. In addition, to ensure full opportunity to comment on the tentative final decision, published on Dec. 7, 2000, the comment period is being extended to April 6, 2001. Notice of this extension will appear soon in the Federal Register. The following market administrators can provide additional information about the injunction. Northeast: Erik F. Rasmussen USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs P.O. Box 1478 (FT Point Station), Boston, MA. 02205-1478 Tel. (617) 542-8966; email: Erik.Rassmussen@USDA.GOV Appalachian: Arnold M. Stallings USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs P.O. Box 18030, Louisville, KY. 40261-0030 Tel. (502) 499-0040; email: Arnold.Stallings@USDA.GOV Florida and Southeast: Sue. L. Mosley USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs P.O. Box 1208, Norcross, GA. 30091-1208 Tel. (770) 448-1194; email: Sue.Mosley@USDA.GOV Upper Midwest: H. Paul Kyburz USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs Suite 210, 4570 West 77th St., Minneapolis, MN. 55435-5037 Tel. (952) 831-5292; email: Paul.Kyburz@USDA.GOV Central: Donald R. Nicholson USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs P.O. Box 14650, Shawnee Mission, KS. 66285-4650 Tel. (913) 495-9300; email: Donald.Nicholson@USDA.GOV Mideast: David Walker, Acting USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs P.O. Box 30128, Cleveland, OH. 44130-0128 Tel. (440) 826-3220; Pacific Northwest, Arizona-Las Vegas, & Western: James R. Daugherty USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs Building J, Suite 102; 1930-220th St., SE., Bothell, WA. 98021-8471 Tel. (425) 487-6009; email: James.Daugherty@USDA.GOV Southwest: J. Richard Fleming USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs P.O. Box 110939, Carrollton, TX 75011-0939 Tel. (972) 245-6060; email: Richard.Fleming@USDA.GOV