HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania poultry producers who suffered lost revenues after their contracts with bankrupt live poultry dealers were terminated may qualify for grants of up to $1,000 to help offset those losses through the USDA’s Poultry Loss Assistance Program.
Providing help
Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary, Russell C. Redding said his department is working to facilitate the program in the state.
“Pennsylvania poultry producers suffered loss of revenue in 2008 as a result of the unexpected bankruptcy of live poultry dealers,” said Redding. “This assistance program will help the producers most affected by that loss.”
Difficult year
In 2008, excess supplies of chicken drove down prices while production expenses increased.
The USDA responded by instituting the Poultry Grant Assistance Program this year. The program will help producers recoup some of the revenue they lost after their contracts with bankrupt growers were terminated.
Qualifications
Other states participating in the program include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
To be eligible, producers must have had a poultry growing arrangement with a live poultry dealer that filed bankruptcy between Dec. 1 and Dec. 30, 2008, and the producer must have terminated the arrangement between May 1, 2008 and July 1, 2010.
Eligible producers must not have entered into a growing arrangement with any live poultry dealer for one month after their original agreement with a bankrupt dealer was terminated.
Information date
Applications for assistance are due Nov. 24.
For information about the grant program, or to receive a grant application, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-787-2376 or e-mail denhall@state.pa.us.
