USDA ANNOUNCES PREVAILING WORLD MARKET PRICES AND LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENT RATES FOR RICE Media Contact: Jillene Johnson (202) 720-9733

NEWS Farm Service Agency Public Affairs Staff 1400 Independence Ave SW Stop 0506, Room 3624-South Washington, D.C. 20250-0506 Release No.1750.01 Program Announcement Jillene Johnson (202) 720-9733 jillene_johnson@wdc.usda.gov USDA ANNOUNCES PREVAILING WORLD MARKET PRICES AND LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENT RATES FOR RICE WASHINGTON, December 18, 2001 The Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation today announced the following prevailing world market prices of milled and rough rice, adjusted for U.S. milling yields and location, and the resulting marketing loan gain (MLG) and loan deficiency payment (LDP) rates, which will become effective today at 3:00 p.m. Prices are unchanged from the previous announcement. -------World Price----- MLG/LDP Rate Milled Value Rough ($/cwt) ($/cwt) ($/cwt) Long Grain 5.40 3.37 3.30 Medium Grain 4.79 3.02 3.07 Short Grain 4.76 3.02 3.11 Brokens 2.70 ---- ---- This week's prevailing world market prices and MLG/LDP rates are based on the following U.S. milling yields and the corresponding loan rates: U.S. Milling Yields Loan Rate Whole/Broken (lbs/cwt) ($/cwt) Long Grain 56.54/11.64 6.67 Medium Grain 56.47/11.61 6.09 Short Grain 56.52/12.14 6.13 The next price announcement is scheduled for December 26, 2001, at 3:00 P.M. eastern time. Further program information is available from Tom Tice, (202) 720-2891, E-mail address tom_tice@wdc.usda.gov # 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