SECRETARY LYONS URGES PARTICIPATION IN NEW FEDERAL TRADE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Assistance available to producer groups impacted by imports

SACRAMENTO – CDFA Secretary William (Bill) J. Lyons, Jr. is urging California agriculture to participate in a new federal trade assistance program aimed at producer groups that have been negatively impacted by imports.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting applications for its Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers program, which offers up to $90 million annually in technical assistance and adjustment payments to agricultural, livestock and aquacultural producers, including qualified fishermen, if they can demonstrate that increased imports of competitive commodities have contributed to a 20-percent or more price decline.

“If a producer is suffering because of increased competition from imports, this is a program that could help them,” said Secretary Lyons. “I applaud the USDA for taking the initiative in keeping California and American agriculture competitive.”

Producer groups are defined as three or more producers of like commodities who are not members of the same lineal family.

For more information, producers are urged to contact a county or state USDA Farm Service Agency office, or the Foreign Agricultural Service, Trade Adjustment Assistance Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1021, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C. 20250-1021. (202) 720-2916. e-mail: Trade.Adjustment@fas.usda.gov.

Information can also be accessed on the Internet, at www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa/resource.htm.       

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