WASHINGTON, June, 24, 2004 – Groups of U.S. agricultural producers seeking assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers (TAA) program for fiscal year 2005 may submit their requests to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) starting August 16, 2004, through January 31, 2005. Under the TAA program, USDA provides technical assistance and cash benefits to eligible farmers and fishermen whose crops or catch have been adversely affected by imports of like or directly competitive commodities. After a petition has been certified for a group, eligible farmers and fishermen will have 90 days to contact the Farm Service Agency to apply for assistance.
Petitioners should file petition form FAS 930 in accordance with 7 CFR 1580.201. A Federal Register notice announcing the petition period for fiscal year 2005 was published on June 24, 2004. This notice may be accessed on the Web at http://www.fas.usda.gov/info/fr/notices/html.
FAS must receive the petition by 5 p.m., EST, January 31, 2005. Petitioners can send their petition by fax at (202) 720-0876, or by email to trade.adjustment@fas.usda.gov. Mail petitions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, Trade Adjustment Assistance Office, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, STOP 1021, Washington, DC 20250-1021. Use of fax or email is preferred.
The TAA petition form is located on the Web at http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa/resource.htm
For further information or questions about completing form FAS-930, contact the TAA coordinator, at (202) 720-2916. General information about the TAA program can be found on the program’s Web site: www.fas.usda.gov/itp/taa/taaindex.htm
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