Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced that USDA's new market news web portal is on line and providing instant, real-time access to daily and historical reports on agricultural commodities. The new portal is at: http://marketnews.usda.gov.

"The new Web portal will help businesses make important marketing decisions with instant access to USDA databases," said Johanns. "Users can create, save and re-use customized searches of USDA's extensive information. Previously, users had to wait up to three days for customized historical data and specially requested sets of data. The new portal will make this customized information available almost instantaneously."

Johanns made the announcement prior to hosting the twenty-second in a series of Farm Bill Forums in which members of the public are invited to express their views about farm and rural policy, in preparation for the development of the next farm bill in 2007.

The portal, operated by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, will significantly enhance current Market News Web site services. Fruit and vegetable market news data are now available through the portal of custom services. Livestock and grain market news will be available Oct. 3 and other commodities will soon follow.

Customers who register and create an account on the Web site can log into the portal and create their own market summary charts to provide snapshots of commodity prices based on location and dates. Registered users can also access additional features - such as storing electronic bookmarks to quickly locate specific data, call up weather reports nationwide and make metric and currency conversions. There is no cost to register.

USDA Market News reports provide timely, unbiased and reliable information to growers, shippers, wholesalers, market analysts and others. Information on supplies, demand, and prices of agricultural commodities is gathered through confidential telephone and face-to-face interviews carried out by market reporters employed by USDA or cooperating state agencies.

Established in 1915, USDA Market News is celebrating in 2005 its 90th year of service to American agriculture. USDA Market News issues over 1,000 daily reports on fruits and vegetables, livestock, dairy products, grain, poultry and cotton. The service helps businesses make informed marketing decisions and serves as the primary data source for many other uses - such as contract pricing, dispute resolution, and insurance settlements.