Overview

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What is the TAA Technical Assistance Requirement?

• Benefit: TAA technical assistance for salmon harvesters is one of the benefits of the TAA for Farmers and Fishermen program. The technical assistance will include information on the status of world salmon markets and supply, options for value adding and alternative marketing of your catch, evaluating your fishing business viability, analyzing production costs, and links to training opportunities available to fishermen.
   
  
• 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 January 20, 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. Workshops will be scheduled so that every eligible fisherman will have access to technical assistance. Technical assistance sessions are being scheduled throughout Alaska and in many other locations throughout the United States. A salmon harvester TAA applicant may receive their TAA technical assistance at any location where the Extension salmon TAA technical assistance is being offered.

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

• Alaska: The TAA technical assistance workshops will be conducted by the University of Alaska Marine Advisory Program in partnership with the Alaska Cooperative Extension Service at locations across Alaska. The schedule of Alaskan technical assistance will be available in late November. The schedule will be posted on the Marine Advisory Program web site, on this web site, and will be widely circulated within Alaska. A toll free number (1-888-788-6333) for scheduling information within Alaska is also available.
   
• Washington: A series of technical assistance sessions will be scheduled across Washington State beginning at Fish Expo WorkBoat Northwest in Seattle, November 20-22, 2003. A complete listing of the technical assistance sessions in Washington State is found on the Washington section of this Web site.
  
• All Other States: Alaska or Washington salmon harvesters residing in states other than Alaska and Washington will have technical assistance sessions scheduled after January 20, 2004 and before April 15, 2004 at a location within a reasonable commuting distance of their place of residence. Individuals who have made application at the USDA Farm Service Agency will be notified by the Extension Service via the U.S. Postal Service mail regarding how they can access a technical assistance session. Please check back to this Web site after January 20, 2004 for technical assistance locations outside Alaska and Washington or call (1-800-477-4012) for information.
   
• 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.