NEWS
Farm Service Agency
Public Affairs Staff
1400 Independence Ave SW
Stop 0506, Room 3633-South
Washington, D.C. 20250-0506
                                                
                                      Release No. 1564.03
                                                
                              Latawnya Dia (202) 720-7962
                            latawnya_dia@wdc.fsa.usda.gov
                                                
                                             
    WEEKLY NATIONAL MARKET PRICE FOR WOOL AND MOHAIR

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2003 - The U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation 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 $2.81     $2.77     $2.73
               18.6 to 19.5   $2.39     $2.35     $2.31
               19.6 to 20.5   $2.24     $2.20     $2.16
               20.6 to 22.0   $2.24     $2.20     $2.16
               22.1 to 23.5   $2.24     $2.20     $2.16
               23.6 to 25.9   $2.12     $2.08     $2.04
               26.0 to 28.9   $1.33     $1.29     $1.25
               29.0 and over  $0.99     $0.95     $0.91

Ungraded Wool Posted Prices (Per pound, greasy basis)
                              Region 1  Region 2  Region 3
                              $0.19     $0.17     $0.15

Mohair Posted Price (Per pound) $2.26

These prices become effective at 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time (ET), 
on Wednesday, May 21, 2003, and are used to determine the 
alternative loan repayment rates for marketing assistance loans 
and to determine loan deficiency payments.  

A list of the states that comprise regions 1, 2 and 3 is available 
on the following website:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/pas/publications/facts/html/woolmoh03.htm

This announcement will be made each Tuesday, at 3:00 p.m., ET,
until further notice. Additional program information is available 
from Thomas Bickerton at (202) 720-3008 or by e-mail at 
Thomas.Bickerton2@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.