Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said today potato growers hit by natural disasters in 1999 and 2000 would share over $28.6 million through the USDA’s Commodity Credit
Corporation.
The payments will be made to growers hit by natural disasters and who suffered quality loss not included in previous disaster programs.
The payments will be made under the Quality Loss Program for Apples and Potatoes.
Growers will receive payments amounting to 27.8 percent of the $129 million in claimed qualifying losses. In other words, a potato grower who had qualified losses of $100,000 will receive a payment in the amount of $27,800.
The National Potato Council will work with Congress on additional funding mechanisms to help offset quality loses sustained by growers in those two years.
Growers with questions are asked to call Hollee Stubblebine at the NPC office at (202) 682-9456 or e-mail at hollees@nationalpotatocouncil.org or visit their local USDA Service Center.
Payments include over $8 million for Idaho, $2.9 million for Minnesota, $3.2 million for North Dakota, $3.4 million for Wisconsin, $1.5 million for Washington, $1.6 million for California, $810,000 for Maine, $516,000 for Texas, and $1.5 million for Nebraska.
Other states receiving payments include Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Vermont, Wyoming.