USDA backs help for salmon fishermen but not for blueberry growers

USDA backs help for salmon fishermen but not for blueberry growers    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has re-certified the trade adjustment assistance petition filed by the United Fishermen of Alaska on behalf of the state’s salmon fishermen.
   The agency initially certified the group’s petition on Nov. 6, 2003. Salmon fishermen holding permits and licenses in Alaska will be eligible to apply for fiscal year 2005 benefits during a 90-day period, starting Oct. 15, 2004 to Jan. 13, 2005.
   The Foreign Agricultural Service found during its investigation that continued increases in imports of farmed salmon contributed significantly to a decline in the average landed price of salmon in Alaska by 32.5 percent during the 2003 marketing period (January-December 2003), compared to the 1997-2001 base period.
   Eligible producers may request technical assistance from the USDA’s Extension Service at no cost and receive an “adjustment assistance payment,” if certain program criteria are met.
   The agency, however, will not re-certify a trade assistance petition from the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, initially certified on Nov. 6, 2003. The agency’s investigation found that domestic producer prices did not decline at least 20 percent during the July 2003-June 2004 marketing year, when compared to the average prices during the five-year base period ending June 2002, a condition for re-certification.