FSA TO PUSH NON-FAT POWDERED MILK AID SHIPMENTS IN 2003

FSA TO PUSH NON-FAT POWDERED MILK AID SHIPMENTS IN 2003    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service hopes to increase its number of non-fat powdered milk aid shipments in 2003.
   Each year, the government accumulates about 1.2 billion pounds of powdered milk from U.S. dairy farmers each year, but only exports several hundred million pounds of this product to starving populations overseas, mostly in North Korea and Africa.
   Bert Farrish, deputy administrator for FSA’s commodity operations, told donor and shipping industry attendees at the USDA & USAID Export Food Aid Conference in Kansas City, Mo. Tuesday that most of the powdered milk, once it expires, is mixed with domestic cattle feed.
   With the milk prices falling, FSA continues to increase its stock of powdered milk. Farrish asked the private sector to help the agency by recommending better uses for this commodity in overseas food-aid programs. “We’re listening,” he said.