OXFORD – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service announced that producers of wild blueberries in Maine are eligible to apply for benefits under the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers program.

Under TAA for farmers, USDA provides technical assistance and cash benefits to producers if an increase in imports of a like commodity has contributed importantly to a decline in price and a loss of income.

After receiving a petition from the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, USDA investigated market conditions. The Farm Service Agency determined that increased imports of frozen wild blueberries contributed importantly to a 33 percent decline in the domestic producer price from July 2002 through June 2003, when compared with the previous 5-year average.

USDA will provide technical assistance at no cost to producers through the Extension Service. The Farm Service Agency will issue payments to eligible producers. Based on the investigation, producers may receive 2.8 cents per pound for blueberries they marketed from July 2002 through June 2003.

Producers have until Jan. 20, 2004, to submit their application to FSA. After they submit completed applications, technical assistance and training will begin as soon as possible. Financial payments will not be made until after applications are certified.

Producers may obtain a TAA application from the Oxford County Farm Service Agency, 1570 Main St., Suite 10, Oxford, ME 04270. For more information you may visit the FSA Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.