04-26395. Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers

AGENCY:

Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA.

ACTION:

Notice.

The Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), re-certified the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) petition that was filed by the North Carolina Fisheries Association on behalf of North Carolina shrimpers and initially certified on April 5, 2004. Shrimpers who land their catch in North Carolina will be eligible to apply for fiscal year 2005 benefits during a 90-day period beginning on November 29, 2004. The application period closes on February 28, 2005.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Upon investigation, the Administrator determined that continued increases in imports of like or directly competitive products contributed importantly to a decline in the average landed price of shrimp in North Carolina by 26.6 percent during the 2003 marketing period (January-December 2003), compared to the 1997-2001 base period. Eligible producers may request technical assistance from the Extension Service at no cost and receive an adjustment assistance payment, if certain program criteria are satisfied. Producers in fiscal year 2005 who did not receive technical assistance under the fiscal year 2004 TAA program must obtain the technical assistance from the Extension Service by May 31, 2005, in order to be eligible for financial payments.

Producers of raw agricultural commodities wishing to learn more about TAA and how they may apply should contact the Department of Agriculture at the addresses provided below for General Information.

Producers Certified as Eligible for TAA, Contact: Farm Service Agency service centers.

For General Information About TAA, Contact: Jean-Louis Pajot, Coordinator, Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers, FAS, USDA, [phone], email: [e-mail].

Dated: November 16, 2004.

Ellen Terpstra,

Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service.