51.   The dairy compact that sets milk prices in New England withstood a House challenge Tuesday from Midwest dairy interests.

52.   The federal law permitting the compact allows a commission to set a milk price that is higher than the price farmers would receive otherwise.

53.   The ice cream industry is screaming in frustration about the rise in milk fat prices.

54.   The House also rejected an effort to debate whether to extend dairy compacts that set milk prices in the Northeast, Southeast and West.

55.   The governor in each state will now appoint between three and five members to a committee that will set farm milk prices once a month.

56.   The new farm bill would create a temporary national program providing producers with monthly cash payments when milk prices fall below set levels.

57.   The opponents were almost all Easterners from both parties who opposed the way the bill dealt with milk prices.

58.   The question of milk prices proved to be one of the most contentious issues in the Senate-House conference.

59.   The result could be bankrupt milk farmers and lower milk prices, especially in the Northeast.

60.   The Senate last month passed a nonbinding resolution urging Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to scrap a formula that bases milk prices on National Cheese Exchange trading.