OXFORD – Laura Rand, executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Oxford County, is reminding people that May 31 is the deadline to sign up for agency’s tree assistance program.

Owners of eligible trees, bushes and vines, which produce an annual commercial crop, and eligible forestland owners who produce timber for commercial purposes may receive assistance under the program.

It is one of several programs to help producers recover from natural disasters that occurred in 2003 and 2004. The payments for this program should begin in early June, she said.

Funding is available for orchardists for losses from Dec. 1, 2003, to Dec. 31, 2004, to replant trees, bushes and vines. Funding is available for forest timber producers who suffered timber losses or damage during the same period.

For more information or to apply for this assistance, people can contact the staff at the Farm Service Agency, 1570 Main St. Additional information is available on the Web at www.fsa.usda.gov.