Import assessment

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-03-18/pdf/2011-6322.pdf

The core:

The 2002
Farm Bill mandates that the Order be
amended to implement an assessment
on imported dairy products to fund
promotion and research and to add
importer representation, initially two
members, to the National Dairy
Promotion and Research Board (Board).
The 2008 Farm Bill specifies a
mandatory assessment rate of 7.5 cents
per hundredweight of milk, or
equivalent thereof, on dairy products
imported into the United States.


The money is going to a good cause:

http://themilkweed.com/Feature_11_Mar_1.pdf

Butter Prices

(click on image to enlarge)

The above graph tells a couple stories. First, butter exports are doing nothing to boost U.S. dairy farm milk prices.

http://www.usdec.org/home.cfm?navItemNumber=82205

"USDEC is funded primarily by the dairy promotion check-off program. It also receives export activity support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). Membership dues fund the trade policy and lobbying activities of the Council."

Secondly, you will note Hoogwegt is a member of USDEC and is the main player on the CME driving down butter prices.


So who is watching the store?