MONTGOMERY - Agriculture & Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks has introduced that the United States Division of Agriculture (USDA) has authorised catastrophe assistance for 2009 for farmers and producers across the United States. The disaster assistance will embrace a Crop Help Program, a Lost Poultry Contract Assistance Program, and an Aquaculture Grant Program.
“Alabama’s producers have been lengthy awaiting this,” mentioned Sparks. “Though these grants won't relieve them of complete losses for 2009, it's actually wanted and appreciated. Sixty-six of the state’s sixty seven counties are a part of this program, which illustrates clearly that we had a widespread problem right here in 2009. I hope this funding will go a long solution to serving to them continue to be successful of their industries.”
The Crop Help Program will present as much as $550 million for these eligible commodities: upland cotton, rice, soybeans, and sweet potatoes. The Misplaced Poultry Contract Help Program will provide as much as $60 million in the type of a grant to those states the place poultry producers misplaced a contract due to the chapter of an integrator in December 2008. The Aquaculture Grant Program will provide as much as $20 million within the type of a grant to these states the place farm-raised aquaculture producers want help due to excessive feed enter prices in 2009.
All Alabama counties are eligible for these applications aside from Coosa County. Particulars concerning the requirements for producer qualifications and funds distribution are anticipated from USDA in the coming weeks.