BANGOR -- Laura Rand, Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Penobscot and Hancock counties today reminded eligible dairy producers who suffered production losses in 2005, 2006 or 2007 that they have until May 5, 2008 to apply to receive benefits under the Dairy Disaster Assistance Program III (DDAP-III) by visiting their local USDA Service Centers or FSA County Office.

“Dairy producers across the country will share in $16 million in benefits for production losses that occurred between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007, because of natural disasters,” said Rand.

Rand says to be eligible, a producer's operation must be in a county designated a major disaster or emergency area by the president or declared a natural disaster area by the secretary of agriculture between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007. Producers in contiguous counties are also eligible. Producers in counties declared disaster areas by the president may be eligible, even though the agricultural loss was not covered by the declaration, if an FSA Administrator's Physical Loss Notice covered such losses.

For more information or to sign up, producers should visit their local FSA County Office at 1423 Broadway, Suite 1, Bangor, Maine.