Signup still open for ewe-lamb payments

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BILL HARMON
Signup began April 8 for incentive payments to help ewe-lamb producers suffering financial losses due to poor market conditions.

The Lamb Meat Adjustment Assistance Program is now a 4-year program started in 2000 to help stabilize the lamb market. Nationally, the LMAAP will be providing $26 million in incentive payments in an effort to increase the supply of domestic lamb meat.

Applications can be made at U.S. Department of Agriculture/Farm Service Agency centers. Incentive payments can be applied for during two application periods.

Applications for the first period (Year 3), which runs from Aug. 1, 2001 to July 31, 2002, are due by no later than Aug. 15, 2002.

Applications for the second period (Year 4), going from Aug. 1, 2002 through July 31, 2003, are due Aug. 15, 2003.

To be eligible, producers must purchase or retain an ewe lamb to expand their sheep herd from Aug. 1, 2001 through July 31, 2003. A producer must also certify that each ewe lamb:

is not older than 18 months;

has not produced an offspring;

does not possess characteristics of parrot mouth, foot rot or scrapie;

is identified according to state identification requirements that comply with USDA Plant and Animal Health Inspection Service’s approved scrapie program for interstate movement.

Payments will be $18 per ewe, subject to availability of funds. If application amounts exceed the National funding limit, USDA will prorate payments. Any funds not utilized during the first application period will be carried forward to the next year.

More information on LMAAP will be available from local USDA offices and on the FSA Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov.

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