NEWS
Farm Service Agency
Public Affairs Staff
1400 Independence Ave SW
Stop 0506, Room 3624-South
Washington, D.C. 20250-0506
Release No. 1412.04
Stevin Westcott (202) 720-4178
stevin_westcott@wdc.usda.gov
USDA ANNOUNCES PAYMENT RATES FOR COMPETITIVENESS PAYMENT
PROGRAM FOR EXTRA LONG STAPLE (ELS) COTTON
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2004 -- The Department of
Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced
that the competitiveness payment program payment rate in
effect from 12:01 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, through
midnight Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004, is zero. The next ELS
payment rate announcement will be on Feb. 12, 2004, at 5
p.m., Eastern time.
ELS competitiveness payments are provided whenever,
for 4 consecutive weeks, the lowest Friday through Thursday
average adjusted price quotation for foreign growths (LFQ)
is less than the Friday through Thursday adjusted average
domestic spot price quotation for U.S. Pima cotton, grade 2,
staple 46, micronaire 3.5 or higher, uncompressed, F.O.B.
warehouse; and the LFQ is less than 134 percent of the
current crop year loan level for ELS cotton grade 2, staple
46, micronaire 3.5 or higher (80.80 cents per pound).
Relevant data for the ELS competitiveness program follow:
Fri/Thur LFQ as % US Price
Period of ELS US Spot LFQ Less Payment Dates
Ending Loan Rate Price Price LFQ Rate Applicable
.......... cents/lb ...........
12/25/03 136.3 122.65 110.12 12.53 0.00 (12/26-01/01)
01/01/04 135.4 122.57 109.37 13.20 0.00 (01/02-01/08)
01/08/04 135.4 122.40 109.37 13.03 0.00 (01/09-01/15)
01/15/04 135.4 119.52 109.37 10.15 0.00 (01/16-02/12)
Future payments will be established if price
conditions warrant.
To obtain an ELS agreement or to inquire regarding
operational issues, please contact Connie Carrison, Kansas
City Commodity Office at (816) 926-6772 or by e-mail
CJCarrison@kcc.usda.gov.
Further program information is available from Scott
Sanford, (202) 720-3392, e-mail scott_sanford@wdc.usda.gov.
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NOTE: Farm Service Agency (FSA) news releases and media
advisories are available on the Web at FSA's home page:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
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