Farm Service Agency Administrator Jonathan Coppess recently announced that USDA is accepting comments on its proposed rule to administer the Asparagus Revenue Market Loss Assistance Payment Program (ALAP). The proposed rule is contained in the Federal Register dated July 16, 2010 at edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-17407.pdf

"Like every farm product, asparagus is an important part of our agricultural offering, so producers occasionally need assistance to adjust to sudden domestic price declines brought about by imports of their commodity," Coppess says. "We are eager to have producers and consumers comment to the Farm Service Agency on our proposed Asparagus Revenue Market Loss rules to help us perfect implementation of this program."

ALAP was authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill and provides $15.0 million in payments to domestic producers of the 2007 crop of asparagus based on their production quantities from the 2003 crop. The authority for ALAP provides that half of the $15 million is to be disbursed for fresh-market asparagus, and the other half for asparagus marketed to processors.

Administrator Coppess noted that the ALAP payment will partially compensate asparagus producers for revenue losses that were caused by imports during the 2004 though 2007 crop years. The payment rates will be determined after all applications have been submitted. They will be calculated by dividing the funds available for each marketing category ($7.5 million for each) by the quantity of 2003-crop production for each marketing category submitted for payment. The payment rate for each marketing category cannot exceed the actual rate of revenue loss.

Based on a review of the comments received regarding the proposed rule, USDA will publish the final regulation for administering ALAP. Following publication of the final regulation, the Farm Service Agency expects to announce a 30-day application period during which individual payment applications will be accepted.

Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted no later than Sept. 14, to be considered.

For information about FSA and its farm programs and farm loans, visit your local FSA county office or go to www.fsa.usda.gov .