Overview

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What is the TAA Technical Assistance Requirement?

• Benefit: TAA technical assistance for catfish producers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah is one of the benefits of the TAA for Farmers and Fishermen program. The technical assistance will include information on the status of world catfish markets and supply, options for value adding and alternative marketing of your catfish, evaluating your operation’s business viability, analyzing production costs, and links to training opportunities available to producers.
   
  
• Requirement: TAA applicants are required to meet with an Extension Service employee or agent to receive technical assistance training before receiving a TAA payment from the USDA Farm Service Agency.
  
  Applicants do not need to have received technical assistance in order to file their TAA application at the USDA Farm Service Agency by the February 17, 2004 application deadline.

How will applicants receive technical assistance?

• Workshops: TAA technical assistance will be offered through a series of 1 to 2 hour workshops conducted by Cooperative Extension in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Utah. Workshops will be scheduled so that every eligible producer will have access to technical assistance.

How do applicants find out where they can receive TAA technical Assistance?

• Schedule: TAA technical assistance sessions will be available beginning in January 2004 continue through mid-May 2004. The finalized schedule will be widely distributed in each state through direct mail, news releases to all of the major print and electronic news outlets and will be posted here.
   
• Certificate of attendance: At the conclusion of a workshop, you will receive two copies of a certificate of attendance. Present or mail one copy of the certificate of attendance to the Farm Service Agency to certify that you have received the required technical assistance, and keep the other for your records.