Export Assistance FAQs Strengthening markets at home by selling more products abroad

As of April 19, 2010, bids for exports of Cheddar, Gouda, Monterey Jack, and Colby cheeses are being accepted.

How does the Export Assistance Program work?

Because of Caper-Volstead requirements, only dairy farmer cooperatives that manufacture eligible products and are fully participating members of CWT are qualified to apply for assistance from CWT in making export sales to eligible countries. Like the herd retirement program, assistance is awarded on a bid basis.

Cooperatives seeking assistance submit a bid specifying the product to be exported, the quantity of product, the end customer, the country in which the customer is located, and the amount of assistance per metric ton of product needed to make the sale. CWT and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) staffs evaluate each bid received against world market conditions and the world product prices. If they determine that the assistance requested is reasonable, the bid is accepted. The cooperative does not receive payment from CWT until paperwork is submitted showing that the product has been delivered to the customer. For more detailed information on export assistance program procedures, please see the Operating Procedures for the CWT Export Assistance Program .