WASHINGTON, Jan. 12, 2004 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has certified a petition for shrimp producers in Alabama under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers program. These producers are now eligible to apply for TAA benefits.
Under the TAA program, USDA provides technical assistance and cash benefits to producers if an increase in imports of a like commodity has contributed importantly to a decline in price and a loss of income.
After an investigation of the petition, FAS determined that, during January-December 2002, increased imports of farmed shrimp contributed importantly to a decline in domestic prices for producers in Alabama when compared with the previous 5-year average.
Alabama shrimp producers may obtain a TAA application (FSA-229) to request program benefits from http://forms.sc.egov.usda.gov/eforms/mainservlet or from their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) service center. Producers can check their local phone listings for the closest service center or go to FSA.USDA.GOV and click on "your local office" for contact information. Applications must be filed by April 12, 2004.
After producers submit their applications, they will be contacted regarding technical assistance and training. Financial payments will not be made until after applications are certified.
