Purpose


As a result of the effects on the supply and processing of Grade “A” milk caused by Hurricane Dorian, extreme and unusual circumstances exist that are expected to hinder the marketability and availability of Grade "A" milk post Hurricane Dorian to consumers throughout the State. Additionally, circumstances have arisen regarding the availability of trucks and trailers and have created an issue removing milk from dairy farms across the State and with the storage of raw milk in anticipation of normal demand post Hurricane Dorian. Following the adoption of this emergency rule, waiving certain cleaning frequency requirements for milk tankers and equipment statewide will allow for adequate and rapid distribution and processing of Grade “A” milk, helping increase production of Grade “A” milk to consumers and assisting the dairy industry through the hardship created by this storm. It is anticipated that stores will have a very limited supply of Grade “A” products post Hurricane Dorian and dairy farms will be forced to dump milk if the processing of these products cannot be expedited by this emergency rule. The exclusion shall be for Section 12p as specified in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance adopted in Rule 5K-10.001. The Grade “A” milk plants have taken in milk with the intent to process after the storm has passed, due to the severity of this storm, the shutdown time may be extended leaving them with milk that is exceeding the 72-hour holding time requirement in the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance for cleaning storage silos. This milk would have to be disposed of to create room for new milk produced under current regulations. Additionally, it is still uncertain if milk will be able to make it to the plants after the storm in time to meet the demand that will soon follow. Allowing them to process on hand inventory will create an immediate supply ready to be distributed as needed and create tank space to receive more milk from the farms. No dairy farm will be able to stop milking lactating cows due to the storm. Lactating dairy cows have to be milked or will suffer serious health implications, such as mastitis, that will cause them to be removed from the milking herd. This will create massive issues with herd health and milk supply in the future, well beyond the affects from Hurricane Dorian. Extending the wash times on tankers will decrease the turn-around time at plants so hauling companies can immediately return to pick more milk up from the farm and get it to where it is needed. This emergency rule will also open receiving bays which can act as wash bays, to unload more milk for processing. Additionally, the flexibility provided by relief to these regulations will allow Grade “A” plants to process and bottle potable water to aid in disaster relief post Hurricane Dorian.