Milk in the New England and Other Marketing Areas; Proposed Rule and Opportunity To File Comments, Including Written Exceptions, on Proposed Amendments to Marketing Agreements and Orders

This proposed rule consolidates the current 31 Federal milk marketing orders into 11 orders. This consolidation is proposed to comply with the 1996 Farm Bill which mandates that the current Federal milk orders be consolidated into between 10 to 14 orders by April 4, 1999. This proposed rule also sets forth two options for consideration as a replacement for the Class I price structure and proposes replacing the basic formula price with a multiple component pricing system. This proposed rule also establishes a new Class IV which would include milk used to produce nonfat dry milk, butter, and other dry milk powders; reclassifies eggnog and cream cheese; and addresses other minor classification changes. Part 1000 is proposed to be expanded to include sections that are identical to all of the consolidated orders to assist in simplifying and streamlining the orders.