Milk in the New England and Other Marketing Areas; Decision on Proposed Amendments to Marketing Agreements and to Orders

This final decision consolidates the current 31 Federal milk marketing orders into 11 orders. This consolidation complies with the 1996 Farm Bill which mandates that the current Federal milk orders be consolidated into between 10 to 14 orders. This decision also conforms to the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, which requires that this decision be issued between February 1 and April 4, 1999, and extends the time for implementing Federal milk order reform amendments to October 1, 1999. This decision sets forth a replacement for the Class I price structure and replaces the basic formula price with a multiple component pricing system. This decision 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 addresses other minor classification changes. Part 1000 is expanded to include sections that are identical to all of the consolidated orders to assist in simplifying and streamlining the orders. This decision does not provide for conducting referendums of producers to determine if they approve of the issuance of the consolidated orders.