Mich. fishermen, Ariz. shrimp producers file for USDA trade help

Mich. fishermen, Ariz. shrimp producers file for USDA trade help    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service received a petition from the Michigan Fish Producers’ Association requesting trade adjustment assistance.
   The group represents channel catfish fishermen. The Foreign Agricultural Service administrator must determine within the next 40 days whether catfish imports contributed significantly to a decline in domestic producer prices of more than 20 percent during the marketing period January-December 2003.
   “If the determination is positive, all Michigan channel fishermen will be eligible to apply to the Farm Service Agency for technical assistance at no cost,” the agency said.
   Similarly, the agency received a petition from a group of shrimp producers in Arizona. The Foreign Agricultural Service administrator must determine whether shrimp imports contributed significantly to a decline in domestic producer prices by more than 20 percent during the marketing year January-December 2003.