1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Annual production" means the total quantity of milk produced in a 12-month period beginning June 1st and ending May 31st of the next calendar year. Total quantity is expressed in hundredweight. [PL 2003, c. 648, §2 (NEW).] B. "Base price" means the price of milk calculated each month in accordance with subsection 2. [PL 2003, c. 648, §2 (NEW).] C. "Suffolk County price" means the Suffolk County, Massachusetts statistical uniform price of milk as determined for each month by the Northeast Market Administrator of the United States Department of Agriculture and expressed per hundredweight of milk. [PL 2003, c. 648, §2 (NEW).] D. "Target price" means the short-run break-even point for each of 4 categories of annual production. Target prices are determined in accordance with subsection 3. [PL 2009, c. 467, §2 (AMD).] [PL 2009, c. 467, §2 (AMD).] 2. Calculation of base price. Base price is calculated each month by adding to the Suffolk County price: A. The amount per hundredweight paid to milk producers in the State as monthly premiums established by the Maine Milk Commission under section 2954, subsection 1; and [PL 2003, c. 648, §2 (NEW).] B. The amount per hundredweight received by milk producers as a monthly payment from the Federal Government due to low milk prices. [PL 2003, c. 648, §2 (NEW).] Cost-of-production adjustments established under section 2954, subsection 2, paragraph A are not considered premiums for the purpose of calculating base price. [PL 2003, c. 648, §2 (NEW).] 3. Determination of target prices. The Maine Milk Commission shall establish 4 tiers of production, each representing a range of annual production. The commission shall use the most recent studies conducted in accordance with section 2952-A, subsection 3, paragraph A to estimate the short- run break-even point within each tier. The Maine Milk Commission may establish and amend ranges of production for each tier and target prices through rulemaking. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. [PL 2009, c. 467, §3 (AMD).] 4. Distribution of dairy stabilization support. Beginning July 1, 2004 for each month that the base price is below the target price, the administrator of the Maine Milk Pool shall distribute to each milk producer in the State an amount of money equal to the previous month's production in hundredweight multiplied by the difference between the applicable target price and the base price in the previous month. [PL 2003, c. 648, §2 (NEW).]
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