U.S. dairy 2009-2010 export incentives start

U.S. dairy 2009-2010 export incentives start    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service has announced the initial allocations under its Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) for July 1 to June 30, 2010.
   The program is designed to help U.S. dairy exporters meet prevailing world prices and encourages the development of international export markets in areas where U.S. dairy products are not competitive due to subsidized dairy products from other countries.
   Of the 2008-2009 DEIP allocations announced in May 2009, 48,176 metric tons of nonfat dry milk; 19,235 metric tons of butterfat; and 2,878 metric tons of cheeses remain uncommitted, the USDA said. These balances will be made available through the issuance of new 'invitations of offers.' Country and region quantities may be limited by the individual invitations.
   Under the U.S. government's World Trade Organization commitments, the USDA is allowed to provide bonuses for dairy products on a July through June yearly basis of 68,201 metric tons of nonfat dry milk; 21,907 metric tons of butterfat; 3,030 metric tons of various cheeses; and 34 metric tons of other dairy products. The balances being made available through the new invitations for offers will count against the 2009-2010 U.S. WTO commitment levels, the USDA said.
   'The United States has taken a measured approach to operating the DEIP that is fully consistent with our WTO commitments,' said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a statement on Monday. 'It appears, however, that our international markets continue to erode and the European Union has shown no indication that it will refrain from providing dairy export subsidies.'
   More information about DEIP, including the announcement of invitations for offers, is available here.