New Program Will Provide
Cash Benefits for Asparagus Farmers -
Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)
The National Asparagus Council (an organization created by the
Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board, California Asparagus Commission
and the Washington Asparagus Commission to work on national
asparagus issues) filed a petition on behalf of US asparagus
producers for benefits under the new Trade Adjustment Assistance
Program. On June 25, 2010 the USDA approved our petition and
it was posted in the Federal Register. This posting begins a
90 day sign-up period that will end around September
22.
The TAA is a new program and is not to be confused with
the Market Loss Assistance Program that was authorized in the
2008 Farm Bill. The Market Loss Assistance Program is the one
that we have been talking / writing about the last 18 months
and is scheduled to be announced sometime yet this summer.
Most Michigan asparagus producers will be eligible for both
programs and producers will have to sign up for each program
to receive benefits from both. Sign-up for the TAA program
has begun and asparagus producers can sign-up anytime between
now and September 22.
TAA is a two step process designed to help producers overcome
the hardship caused by foreign imports. Step one involves completion
of three segments resulting in producers becoming eligible to
receive up to $4000 in cash payments. Upon completion
of step one, producers may submit a Business Adjustment Plan
making them eligible to receive up to an additional $8000.
Training and help for both segments will be provided by the
Cooperative Extension Service. Members of the National Asparagus
Council and the Cooperative Extension Service will be meeting
on July 12 to help shape the training curriculum. Additional
information on the TAA program is attached.
The National Asparagus Council would like to thank Ken Nye
(MACMA, Asparagus Division) for his help in assembling data
for the TAA application.
If you have any questions on the TAA program or application
requirements please feel free to call me (John Bakker) at (231)
873-2740.
Market Loss Assistance Program
for Asparagus Producers
We have been informed that the MLAP is at its final stop (Office
of Management & Budget) before being cleared to be published
in the Federal Register. USDA will publish proposed rules during
which comments can be made followed by a comment evaluation
period. Upon evaluation of comments USDA will then publish a
Final Rule which will outline the sign-up period for this program.
At this time I am expecting sign-up to begin this fall. We will
inform you of a more accurate time-line when the proposed rule
is published.
Governor Makes Michigan Asparagus Advisory
Board Appointments
On March 16, 2010 Governor Granholm appointed the following
members to MAAB:
Rodney Winkle, Watervliet replaces Dino Rigoni. Harold Goodell,
Dowagiac, Eugene Kokx, Gerald Malburg, Tom Oomen and Ken Oomen
all of Hart, were reappointed. They join: Vic Shank, Dowagiac
and Fred Tubbs and Sarah Greiner of Hart to round out the nine
member board.
Thank you to Dino for his many years of service and to
the present board members for sacrificing time away from their
farming operations to serve the industry.
Asparagus Research Contributions
The following processors and fresh packers have voluntarily
contributed $3/ ton from the 2009 crop year:
THANK YOU!!
Honee Bear Canning
Arbre Farms
Todd Greiner Farms Packing
Coloma Frozen Foods
Michigan Freeze Pack
Ridgeview Packing
Ron Richter Farms
Northbay Produce
If the company that handles your asparagus is not on the list
above, please encourage them to join you (part of your MAAB
assessments funds asparagus research) in supporting our research
program. We will be sending handlers an invoice for their voluntary
2010 crop year assessment in November.
2010 Asparagus Research Projects
Ongoing work on: Fusarium and Phytophthora (Hausbeck), New Herbicide
Evaluation (Zandstra), Replant Suppression (Ngouajio), Rye Cover
& Irrigation (Brainard) coupled with a new trial established
for: Irrigation (Brainard) and Asparagus Miner (Szendrei) highlight
this year's research efforts. In addition, one of the world's
most extensive new variety evaluations continues at the Industry
owned research farm in Hart.
The Michigan Asparagus Research Committee working with MSU scientists
was able to secure $138,000 in Federal and State dollars to
supplement funds provided by growers and handlers. This amounts
to $1.50 coming in from outside sources for every dollar invested!
2010 Harvest Season
Although final numbers are still coming in, 2010 will undoubtedly
go down as the lowest state-wide yield in over 30 years. Old
field plow-outs last summer, frost and drought all contributed
to a very poor harvest season. Excellent fresh market prices
appear to be the only bright spot as we put the 2010 harvest
behind us.
