LEWISTON – Jane Harden, executive director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Androscoggin County, has reminded eligible dairy producers who suffered production losses in 2005, 2006 or 2007 that they have until May 5 to apply to receive benefits under the Dairy Disaster Assistance Program III by visiting their local USDA service center or FSA county office.

“Dairy producers across the country will share in $16 million in benefits for production losses that occurred between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007, because of natural disasters,” said Harden.

Harden says to be eligible, a producer’s operation must be in a county designated a major disaster or emergency area by the president or declared a natural disaster area by the secretary of agriculture between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007. Producers in contiguous counties are also eligible.

For more information or to sign up, producers should visit the FSA county office at 254 Goddard Road.