NEWS
Farm Service Agency
Public Affairs Staff
1400 Independence Ave SW
Stop 0506, Room 3624-South
Washington, D.C. 20250-0506

                                       Release No. 1424.03
                                                
                            Jillene Johnson (202) 720-9733
                              jillene_johnson@wdc.usda.gov

     WEEKLY NATIONAL MARKET PRICE FOR WOOL AND MOHAIR

      WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2003 - The U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today
announced posted prices for wool, by region, and the
national posted price for mohair:

Graded Wool Posted Prices (Per pound, clean basis)
      Micron             Region 1    Region 2    Region 3
      Less than 18.6       $3.33       $3.29       $3.25
      18.6 to 19.5         $2.94       $2.90       $2.86
      19.6 to 20.5         $2.80       $2.76       $2.72
      20.6 to 22.0         $2.77       $2.73       $2.69
      22.1 to 23.5         $2.73       $2.69       $2.65
      23.6 to 25.9         $2.48       $2.44       $2.40
      26.0 to 28.9         $1.51       $1.47       $1.43
      29.0 and over        $1.13       $1.09       $1.05

Ungraded Wool Posted Prices (Per pound, greasy basis)
                         Region 1    Region 2    Region 3
                           $0.31       $0.29       $0.27

Mohair Posted Price (Per pound)        $2.12

      These prices become effective at 12:01 a.m., Eastern
Time on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, and are used to
determine the alternative loan repayment rates for
marketing assistance loans and to determine loan
deficiency payments.

      This announcement will continue to be made each
Tuesday, at 3:00 p.m. until further notice. Additional
program information is available from Scott Sanford at
(202) 720-3392 or by e-mail at scott_sanford@wdc.usda.gov.

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Note:  The Farm Service Agency's (FSA) news releases and
media advisories are available at http://www.fsa.usda.gov