The Montana Department of Livestock on Friday released a draft rule to extend milk inspection fees to dairy processors, kicking off a public comment period through July 1.

The proposal was approved by the state Board of Livestock last month after months of deliberation over how to make the state’s milk inspection program solvent.

To remain compliant with federal Food and Drug Administration regulations, the state Milk and Egg Bureau conducts periodic inspections of licensed dairies, charging a fee of 15.5 cents per hundred pounds of milk produced.

Under the proposed rule change, the per-hundredweight fee would decrease slightly to 14 cents. That charge would extend to cheesemakers and other dairy processors, who historically have been exempt from the fees.

For those licensed as both producers and processors, only one fee would be assessed, and the minimum and maximum monthly fees will remain at $50 and $1,050, respectively.

Dairy industry representatives and Board of Livestock members hammered the new fee schedule out as a compromise after an earlier proposal — which would have significantly raised fees for many small dairy producers and processors — was shelved after receiving sharp criticism from the industry.

The department predicts the fee change will create a budget surplus of about $16,000 through the end of the 2017 fiscal year.

The department is accepting comments until July 1 at 5 p.m.

Comments can be emailed to MDOLcomments@mt.gov or mailed to Executive Officer, Department of Livestock, 301 N. Roberts St., Room 304, P.O. Box 202001, Helena, MT 59620-2001.

The public can also provide oral comments by calling (406) 444-9525 or fax comments to (406) 444-4316.

To view the proposed rule, visit liv.mt.gov/content/public/arm/32-16-275pro-arm.