The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced the 2011 crop loan rate differentials for upland and extra long staple (ELS) cotton. The tables of these loan rate differentials are available on the FSA Price Support Division website at http://go.usa.gov/2Vp.

These differentials, also referred to as loan rate premiums and discounts, have been calculated based upon market valuations of various cotton quality factors for the prior three years. This calculation procedure is the same one used in past years. The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) adjusts cotton loan rates by these differentials so that cotton loan values reflect the differences in market prices for color, staple length, leaf, extraneous matter, micronaire, length uniformity and strength.

The 2011-crop differential schedules are applied to loan rates of 52.00 cents per pound for the base grade of upland cotton and 79.77 cents per pound for ELS cotton. The loan rate provided to an individual cotton bale is based on the quality of each individual bale as determined by Agricultural Marketing Service classing measurements.

Further program information is available from Gene Rosera at (202) 720-8837 or by email at [email protected].