10/11/06 USDEC

The United States Dairy Export Council is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the export trade interests of American milk producers, processors, dairy co-ops and export traders. Right now, things are looking up for USDEC thanks to a 56 percent increase in dairy exports over the past two years. SPEICH "Just last year when we had four percent growth in US milk production its good that we had developed export markets so that we could move some of that new milk production, excess milk production." Spokeswoman Margaret Speich says demand in Asia, particularly China, is driving the export market, mostly in dry ingredients like whey proteins, lactose and skim milk powder. More importantly its how these exports were sold. SPEICH "95 percent of our exports last year were commercial sales. So we're talking some very viable business opportunities, viable business sales." Thanks to strong overseas demand there were no sales of excess dairy products to the USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation last year for the first time in at least 35 years. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott