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Foster Swift Agricultural Law Update
April 2011
On February 4, 2011, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $15 million is available to United States asparagus producers to compensate them for marketing losses due to imports in the 2004 through 2007 crop years. The 2008 Farm Bill authorized the Asparagus Revenue Market Loss Payment Program, and the Commodity Credit Corporation will provide an allocation of $7.5 million for fresh-market asparagus and $7.5 million for processed or frozen market asparagus. The maximum payment rates for processed asparagus are $1.08 per pound and for fresh-crop asparagus, $1.06 per pound. To qualify for the program, producers must have produced and marketed asparagus in commercial quantities in the U.S. during both crop years 2003 and 2007, and meet highly erodible land and wetland provisions. The sign-up period for this program ends April 8, 2011.
For more information, contact the nearest Farm Service Agency county office.