AMS No. 011-13

Sam Jones-Ellard (202) 660-2268

Samuel.jones@ams.usda.gov

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a notice extending the Dairy Forward Pricing Program to allow producers and cooperative associations to enter into forward price contracts under the program through Sept. 30, 2013.

The notice, which becomes effective on Feb. 1, 2013, also extends all other program requirements outlined in the program’s Oct. 31, 2008, Final Rule until Sept. 30, 2013.

The Dairy Forward Pricing Program allows producers and producer cooperative associations to voluntarily enter into forward price contracts with handlers for milk under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937. The 2008 Farm Bill initially prohibited new forward contracts from being entered into after Sept. 30, 2012, and allowed no forward contracts to extend beyond Sept. 30, 2015.

The passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, signed into law on Jan. 2, 2013, revised the program to allow new contracts to be entered into until Sept. 30, 2013. Any forward contracts entered into until the deadline on Sept. 30, 2013, are still subject to the Sept. 30, 2015, cutoff date.

The notice will be published in the Feb. 1, 2013, Federal Register. For more information about the decision contact: Roger Cryan, Director, Economics Division, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, Stop 0229-Room 2753-S, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250 0231, (202) 720 7091, e mail address: roger.cryan@ams.usda.gov.

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