Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted 10 requests for export assistance from Bongards, Dairy Farmers of America, Darigold, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, and Michigan Milk Producers Association to sell 1.285 million pounds (583 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese, 1.058 million pounds (480 metric tons) of butter, and 85,890 pounds of whole milk powder (WMP) to customers in Asia and the Middle East. The product will be delivered December 2012 through February 2013.
In 2012, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Gouda cheese totaling 113.6 million pounds, butter totaling 70.5 million pounds (adjusted for cancellations), anhydrous milk fat totaling 127,868 pounds, and WMP totaling 171,961 pounds. The product is going to 36 countries on four continents. On a butterfat basis, the milk equivalent of these exports is 2.590 billion pounds, or the same as 75% of the increase in U.S. milk production through October 2012.
Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by helping to maintain inventories of cheese and butter at desirable levels. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.
CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
Source: Cooperatives Working Together (CWT)