Milk in the Iowa Marketing Area; Notice of Reopening and Extension of Time for Filing Comments

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

7 CFR Part 1079

[DA-99-02]

Milk in the Iowa Marketing Area; Notice of Reopening and

Extension of Time for Filing Comments

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Reopening and Extension of Time for Filing Comments.

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SUMMARY: This document reopens and extends the time for filing comments

on a proposed revision to reduce the percentage of a supply plant's

receipts that must be delivered to fluid milk plants to qualify a

supply plant for pooling under the Iowa Federal milk order.

DATES: Comments are now due on or before June 14, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments (two copies) should be filed with the USDA/AMS/

Dairy Programs, Order Formulation Branch, Room 2971, South Building,

P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456. Advance, unofficial copies

may be faxed to (202) 690-0552 or e-mailed to

OFB__FMMO__C[email protected]. Reference should be made to the title of

action and docket number. All written submissions made pursuant to this

notice will be made available for public inspection in the Dairy

Programs offices during regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(b)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Constance M. Brenner, Marketing

Specialist, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, Order Formulation Branch, Room

2971, South Building, P.O. Box 96456, Washington, DC 20090-6456, (202)

720-2357, e-mail address [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Prior documents in this proceeding:

Proposed Rule: Issued April 14, 1999; published April 19, 1999 (64

FR 19071).

Notice is hereby given that the time for filing comments on the

proposed revision of the percentage of a supply plant's receipts that

must be delivered to fluid milk plants to qualify a supply plant for

pooling under the Iowa Federal milk order is hereby reopened and

extended. The comment period closed on April 26, 1999. Comments

concerning the months of June, July, and August will now be accepted

through June 14, 1999.

On the basis of the original request for revision and one comment

filed in partial support of the proposed revision, USDA is reducing the

supply plant shipping percentages by 10 percentage points for the

months of April and May, and by 5 percentage points for the month of

June. These revisions concerning supply plant shipping percentages are

published separately in the Federal Register. A reduction of 10

percentage points for the months of April through August 1999 was

requested by Beatrice Cheese, Inc. A comment, filed on behalf of

Anderson-Erickson Dairy Company, argued that the milk supply situation

in the Iowa market is too volatile at present to be able to determine

whether the requested reduction in the pool supply plant shipping

percentage for the months of June, July, and August is appropriate.

Therefore, a decision on whether to revise the shipping percentage for

the months of July and August and to further revise the shipping

percentage for the month of June will be made after the close of the

reopened comment period.

This notice is issued pursuant to the provisions of the

Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (7 U.S.C. 601-

674), and the applicable rules of practice and procedure governing the

formulation of marketing agreements and marketing orders (7 CFR Part

900).

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1079

Milk marketing orders.

Dated: May 7, 1999.

Richard M. McKee,

Deputy Administrator, Dairy Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-12145 Filed 5-12-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-02-U