Lawsuit Causes USDA to Delay New Make Allowances by One Month
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it will delay the implementation of the tentative decision to update the make allowances by one month, moving from the original start date of February 1 to March 1, 2007. USDA agreed to do so based on a lawsuit filed January 12 on behalf of Bridgewater Dairy, Arkansas Dairy Cooperative Association, Continental Dairy Products, Lone Star Milk Producers, Select Milk Producers, Bryan Wolfe and Zia Milk Producers. This means the USDA price announcement for advanced Class I skim and butterfat and Class II skim milk prices for the month of February will be based on the current make allowances, not the updated make allowances announced by USDA on December 29, 2006. For USDA's list of prices, click here.IDFA will oppose this attempt to block implementation of the tentative decision by participating in the court hearing on this lawsuit tentatively scheduled for February 15 in Toledo, Ohio. For more information, contact Bob Yonkers, IDFA director of policy analysis and chief economist at byonkers@idfa.org or 202-220-3511.
Posted January 22, 2007