§ 1068.43 - General classification rules.

In determining the classification of producer milk, the following rules shall apply;

(a) Each month the market administrator shall correct for mathematical and other obvious errors all reports filed pursuant to § 1068.30 and shall compute separately for each pool plant, and for each cooperative association with respect to milk for which it is the handler pursuant to § 1068.9 (b) or (c) that was not received at a pool plant, the pounds of skim milk and butterfat, respectively, in each class in accordance with §§ 1068.40, 1068.41, and 1068.42. The combined pounds of skim milk and butterfat so determined in each class for a handler described in § 1068.9 (b) or (c) shall be such handler's classification of producer milk;

(b) If any of the water contained in the milk from which a product is made is removed before the product is utilized or disposed of by a handler, the pounds of skim milk in such product that are to be considered under this part as used or disposed of by the handler shall be an amount equivalent to the nonfat milk solids contained in such product plus all of the water originally associated with such solids;

(c) The classification of producer milk for which a cooperative association is the handler pursuant to § 1068.9 (b) or (c) shall be determined separately from the operations of any pool plant operated by such cooperative association; and

(d) For classification purposes, pursuant to §§ 1068.40 through 1068.45, butterfat in skim milk either disposed of to others or used in the manufacture of milk products shall be accounted for at a butterfat content of 0.065 percent, unless the handler has adequate records of the actual butterfat content of such skim milk.

(e) Skim milk and butterfat contained in receipts of bulk concentrated fluid milk and nonfluid milk products that are reconstituted for fluid use shall be assigned to Class I use, up to the reconstituted portion of labeled reconstituted fluid milk products, on a pro rata basis (except for any Class I use of specific concentrated receipts that is established by the handler) prior to any assignments under § 1068.44. Any remaining skim milk and butterfat in concentrated receipts shall be assigned to uses under § 1068.44 on a pro rata basis, unless a specific use of such receipts is established by the handler.

(f) Class III-A milk shall be allocated in combination with Class III milk and the quantity of producer milk eligible to be priced in Class III-A shall be determined by prorating receipts from pool sources to Class III-A use on the basis of the quantity of total receipts of bulk fluid milk products allocated to Class III milk at the plant.