Applications due in March for farmer recovery aid

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Louisiana farmers who suffered losses from the 2005 hurricanes have until next month to sign up for disaster aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom said.

The sign-up period lasts through March 30 and includes aid for livestock owners for feed losses and death of animals, for citrus farmers with crop losses and tree damage, for fruit and vegetable farmers with crop losses and cleanup costs, and for commercial nursery and fernery producers with inventory losses and cleanup costs.

Eligibility guidelines vary for each program. Further information is online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov under disaster assistance programs.

“I urge producers to promptly submit their applications,” Odom said in a statement. “I don’t want anyone who is eligible to miss out on recouping his or her losses.”