Southern rice farmers, fisheries seek USDA trade help

Southern rice farmers, fisheries seek USDA trade help    The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has received petitions from groups of rice farmers and fisheries for trade adjustment assistance.
   The agency will review a petition from the U.S. Rice Producers Association of Houston, which said imports contributed to a significant decline in domestic producer prices for rice starting August 2002 and ending July 2003.
   United Fisheries, representing Mississippi shrimpers, and the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama, representing that state’s shrimpers, claimed a 20 percent decline in domestic prices between January 2002 and December 2002 because of shrimp imports.
   In addition, FAS received a petition from a group of Louisiana freshwater crawfish producers, which said its members suffered a decline of 20 percent in domestic prices between January 2002 and December 2002 due to imports.
   The FAS administrator has 40 days to determine the validity of the claims. If the determination is positive, these producers will be eligible to apply to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency for technical assistance at no cost and for adjustment assistance payments.