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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 7387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02170]

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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Marketing Service

[Docket No. AMS-DA-08-0031; DA-08-05]

Continuation of 2008 Farm Bill--Dairy Forward Pricing Program

AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) extended the 
authorization of the Dairy Forward Pricing Program contained in the 
Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill), through 
September 30, 2013. This document provides notice that producers and 
cooperative associations of producers may enter into forward price 
contracts under the Dairy Forward Pricing Program through September 30, 
2013, as provided for in the Final Rule published October 31, 2008 (73 
FR 64868). The 2008 Farm Bill initially prohibited new forward 
contracts from being entered into after September 30, 2012, and no 
forward contracts entered into under the program extending beyond 
September 30, 2015. However, passage of the ATRA that was signed into 
law on January 2, 2013, revised the program to allow new contracts to 
be entered into until September 30, 2013. Any forward contract entered 
into up and until the September 30, 2013, deadline is still subject to 
the September 30, 2015, cutoff date to meet the terms of the contract.

DATES: Effective Date: February 1, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Cryan, Director, Economics 
Division, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, Stop 0229-Room 2753-S, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0231, (202) 720-7091, 
email address: roger.cryan@ams.usda.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dairy Forward Pricing Program (73 FR 
64868) allows producers and cooperative associations of producers to 
voluntarily enter into forward price contracts with handlers for milk 
used for Class II, III, or IV purposes under the Agricultural Marketing 
Agreement Act of 1937 (AMAA), (7 U.S.C. 601 et seq). The program also 
allows handlers regulated under the Federal milk marketing order 
program to pay producers and cooperative associations in accordance 
with the terms of a forward contract and not have to pay the minimum 
Federal order blend price for producer milk. This program was initially 
established in accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill (H.R. 6124, Pub. L. 
110-246). The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), (H.R. 8, 
Pub. L. 112-240), extended the authorization of the Dairy Forward 
Pricing Program contained in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 
2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) (H.R. 6124, Pub. L. 110-246) through 
September 30, 2013.
    The program authorizes that under the AMAA, milk handlers pay 
producers or cooperative associations of producers a negotiated price, 
rather than the Federal order minimum blend price for producer milk if 
subject to conditions and terms of a forward contract, provided the 
volume of such milk does not exceed the handler's Class II, III, and IV 
utilization for the month on the order that regulates the milk. The 
program applies to producer milk regulated under Federal milk marketing 
orders that is not classified as Class I milk or milk otherwise 
intended for fluid use and that is in the current of interstate or 
foreign commerce or directly burdens, obstructs, or affects interstate 
or foreign commerce of Federally regulated milk. The Federal milk 
marketing order program consists of 10 Federal milk marketing orders (7 
CFR parts 1001-1131).

    Dated: January 29, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-02170 Filed 1-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P
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