Release No. 012-09

Becky Unkenholz (202) 720-8998

Becky.unkenholz@usda.gov

Billy Cox (202) 720-8998

Billy.cox@usda.gov

Washington, Feb. 25, 2009 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that its Market News Portal has been expanded to include Dairy Market News. The portal, operated by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), significantly enhances Market News web site services. The Market News web portal provides instant, real-time access to daily and historical reports on agricultural commodity markets. The system came on line in 2005, beginning with Fruits and Vegetables and Livestock and Grain. The portal can be accessed at http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/.

The expanded web portal will help more businesses make marketing decisions with instant access to Market News data bases. The portal makes customized current and historical data available almost instantly.

The Agricultural Marketing Service will showcase the new Dairy Market News Portal at its information display at USDA’s 85th Agricultural Outlook Forum, Feb. 26 and 27, in Arlington, Va. AMS will also present “Expanding the AMS Market News Portal to Dairy,” after the Dairy Outlook Session at the forum Feb. 27.

Registered users can log into the portal, access information, download it in several user-defined formats, and establish electronic bookmarks to quickly locate specific data. Users can create their own market summary charts to provide snapshots of commodity prices based on location and dates for many commodities. The portal also offers additional features, such as nationwide weather reports and metric and currency conversions. There is no cost to register.

USDA Market News reports provide timely, unbiased and reliable information to producers, shippers and handlers, manufacturers and processors, wholesale and retail marketers, market analysts and others. USDA and cooperating State agency market reporters gather information on supplies, demand, and prices of agricultural commodities.

Established in 1915, USDA Market News issues over 1000 daily reports on fruits and vegetables, livestock, dairy products, grain, poultry, and cotton. The service helps businesses make informed marketing decisions and is a primary data source for other uses – such as contract pricing, dispute resolution, and insurance settlements.

For more information about the market news portal, please contact AMS Public affairs at 202-720-8998. For more information about the Agricultural Outlook Forum, visit the official forum web site at http://www.usda.gov/oce/forum.