§ 1137.51 - Basic formula price.

The basic formula price shall be the preceding month's average pay price for manufacturing grade milk in Minnesota and Wisconsin using the “base month” series, as reported by the Department, adjusted to a 3.5 percent butterfat basis using the butterfat differential for the preceding month computed pursuant to § 1137.74 and rounded to the nearest cent, plus or minus the change in gross value yielded by the butter-nonfat dry milk Cheddar cheese product price formula computed pursuant to paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section.

(a) The gross values of per hundredweight of milk used to manufacture butter-nonfat dry milk and Cheddar cheese shall be computed, using price data determined pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section and annual yield factors, for the preceding month and separately for the current month as follows:

(1) The gross value of milk used to manufacture butter-nonfat dry milk shall be the sum of the following computations:

(i) Multiply the Grade AA butter price by 4.27;

(ii) Multiply the nonfat dry milk price by 8.07; and

(iii) Multiply the dry buttermilk price by 0.42.

(2) The gross value of milk used to manufacture Cheddar cheese shall be the sum of the following computations:

(i) Multiply the Cheddar cheese price by 9.87; and

(ii) Multiply the Grade A butter price by 0.238.

(b) The following produce prices shall be used pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section:

(1) Grade AA butter price. Grade AA butter price means the simple average for the month of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Grade AA butter price, as reported by the Department.

(2) Nonfat dry milk price. Nonfat dry milk price means the simple average for the month of the Western Nonfat Dry Milk Low/Medium Heat price, as reported by the Department.

(3) Dry buttermilk price. Dry buttermilk price means the simple average for the month of the Western Dry Buttermilk price, as reported by the Department.

(4) Cheddar cheese price. Cheddar cheese price means the simple average for the month of the National Cheese Exchange 40-pound block Cheddar cheese price, as reported by the Department.

(5) Grade A butter price. Grade A butter price means the simple average for the month of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Grade A butter price, as reported by the Department.

(c) Determine the amounts by which the gross value per hundredweight of milk used to manufacture butter-nonfat dry milk and the gross value per hundredweight of milk used to manufacture Cheddar cheese for the current month exceed or are less than the respective gross values for the preceding month.

(d) Compute weighting factors to be applied to the changes in gross values determined pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section by determining the relative proportion that the data included in each of the following paragraphs is of the total of the data represented in paragraphs (d)(1) and (d)(2) of this section:

(1) Combine the total nonfat dry milk production for the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin, as reported by the Department, for the most recent preceding period, and divide by the annual yield factor for the nonfat dry milk, 8.07, to determine the quantity (in hundredweights) of milk used in the production of butter-nonfat dry milk; and

(2) Combine the total American cheese production for the States of Minnesota and Wisconsin, as reported by the Department, for the most recent preceding period, and divide by the annual yield factor for Cheddar cheese, 9.87, to determine the quantity (in hundredweights) of milk used in the production of American cheese.

(e) Compute a weighted average of the changes in gross values per hundredweight of milk determined pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section in accordance with the relative proportions of milk determined pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section.