| Sign-up ends Jan. 13, 2005, for the $18 million Ewe Lamb Replacement and Retention Payment Program (ELRRPP),which pays producers to expand their ewe lamb breeding stock. Sign-up for the program began Oct. 25, 2004.
ELRRPP will strengthen the lamb industry by boosting the purchasing power of producers, including their ability to invest in larger and genetically-improved breeding stocks. The program is authorized by Section 32 of the
Act of Aug. 24, 1935, as amended.
ELRRPP payments are expected to begin the end of January. Subject to the availability of funds, producers will receive $18 for each qualifying ewe lamb retained or purchased for breeding purposes during a specified period. If the amount of approved applications exceeds available funding, USDA will uniformly apply a national factor to reduce payments to producers.
An eligible producer must have purchased or retained ewe lambs for breeding purposes between Aug. 1, 2003, and July 31, 2004, and must have retained the qualifying ewe lambs in the herd for at least one complete offspring lambing cycle. The producer must not have received funds under USDA's Lamb Meat Adjustment Assistance Program for the same ewe lamb.
In addition, during at least part of the base period (Aug. 1, 2003, to July 31, 2004), qualifying female ewe lambs must not have been older than 18 months and must not have produced an offspring. Other conditions apply as provided for in the program regulations and application.
Producers must apply for the program by completing form FSA-384, "Ewe Lamb Replacement/Retention Payment Program Application." This form is available at local USDA FSA offices and on USDA's Web site at:http:\\forms.sc.egov.usda.gov\eforms\mainservlet.
More information on ELRRPP is available at the Gilmer-Calhoun County FSA
Office at 201 E. Main St., Rm. 122, 304-462-7895 or on the FSA Web site at www.fsa.usda.gov
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs). Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc) should contact the USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW. Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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