USDA sets dairy export incentive allocations

USDA sets dairy export incentive allocations    The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday allocations under the Dairy Export Incentive Program for July 2008 through June 30, as allowed under the rules of the World Trade Organization.
   The program is designed to help U.S. dairy exporters meet prevailing world prices and encourages development of international export markets in areas where U.S. dairy products are not competitive due to subsidized dairy products from other countries.
   'These allocations illustrate our continued support for the U.S. dairy industry, which has seen its international market shares erode, in part, due to the reintroduction of direct export subsidies by the European Union earlier this year,' said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a statement.
   The Dairy Export Incentive Program allocations, which will be made available through invitation of offers, are:
   ' 68,201 metric tons of nonfat dry milk.
   ' 21,097 metric tons of butterfat.
   ' 3,030 metric tons of various cheeses.
   ' 34 metric tons of other dairy products.
   ' Individual product and country allocations.
   Country and region quantities may be limited by the invitation.
   The program, administered by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, was reauthorized by the 2008 Food, Conservation, and Energy Act.