The 2002 Farm Bill, technically the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, was signed into law by President George W. Bush on May 13, 2002. As usual, passage of the new farm act was a lengthy and contentious process. And also as usual, many sticking points related to dairy provisions. The House of Representatives passed its version of the farm bill in early October. The dairy title of the House bill was relatively simple: It extended the dairy price support program at the current $9.90 level and authorized up to two butter-powder price “tilts” per year. It also extended the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP) and the processor- funded fluid milk promotion program, made imported dairy products subject to the same promotion assessment paid by U.S. dairy farmers, and mandated reporting of dairy product inventories.