Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998Becky.unkenholz@ams.usda.govBilly Cox (202) 720-8998Billy.cox@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 23, 2010 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued a final rule amending the producer-handler definition in all Federal milk marketing orders. Producers in all Federal milk marketing orders approved the amendments in referenda held in March 2010.
This rule amends the producer handler definition to limit exemption from pooling and pricing provisions of the orders to those producer-handlers with total route disposition and sales of packaged fluid milk products to other plants of 3 million pounds or less per month.
These amendments were considered in a recommended decision published Oct. 21, 2009, and adopted by a final decision published March 4, 2010. The final rule appears in today’s Federal Register. The amendments will be effective June 1, 2010.
For additional information about the decision contact:
Northeast: Erik F. RasmussenUSDA/AMS/Dairy ProgramsP.O. Box 51478, Boston, MA 02205-1478Tel. (617) 737-7199; email: erasmussen@fedmilk1.com
Appalachian: Harold H. Friedly, Jr. USDA/AMS/Dairy ProgramsP.O. Box 91528, Louisville, KY 40291-0528Tel. (502) 499-0040; email: friedly@malouisville.com
Florida and Southeast: Sue L. MosleyUSDA/AMS/Dairy Programs1550 North Brown Road, Suite 120, Lawrenceville, GA 30043Tel. (770) 682-2501; email: smosley@fmmatlanta.com
Upper Midwest: H. Paul KyburzUSDA/AMS/Dairy Programs1600 West 82nd Street, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55431-1420Tel. (952) 831-5292; email: pkyburz@fmma30.com
Central: David C. StukenbergUSDA/AMS/Dairy ProgramsP.O. Box 14650, Shawnee Mission, KS 66285-4650Tel. (913) 495-9300; email: David.Stukenberg@fmmacentral.com
Mideast: Paul A. HuberUSDA/AMS/Dairy ProgramsP.O. Box 5102, Brunswick, OH 44212Tel. (330) 225-4758; email: phuber@fmmaclev.com
Pacific Northwest and Arizona: James R. DaughertyUSDA/AMS/Dairy Programs1930-220th St., SE., Suite 102 Bothell, WA 98021-8471Tel. (425) 487-6009; email: jdaugherty@fmmaseattle.com
Southwest: Cary HunterUSDA/AMS/Dairy ProgramsP.O. Box 110939, Carrollton, TX 75011-0939Tel. (972) 245-6060; email: sw.order@dallasma.com