[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 17135]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7788]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2001 / 
Notices  

[[Page 17135]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Commodity Credit Corporation


Poult Enteritis Mortality Syndrome (PEMS)

AGENCY: Commodity Credit Corporation, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) is issuing this notice 
to inform all interested parties who were affected by turkey 
depopulation due to Poult Enteritis Mortality Syndrome (PEMS) in 
southwestern Missouri of the availability of assistance for such losses 
through Livestock Indemnity Program for Contract Growers (LIP-CG).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Biastock, (202) 720-6336.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    During the period since April 2000, several turkey contract growers 
in the southwestern Missouri counties of Jasper, Newton, Barry, 
McDonald, and Barton, were forced to depopulate their turkey houses for 
several weeks due to an outbreak of PEMS. PEMS is an intestinal 
infection that causes dehydration and high mortality in young turkeys. 
To end the disease, growers must depopulate their turkey houses and 
leave them empty for two growing cycles, or about 20 weeks.
    Section 806 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, Public 
Law 106-387, as amended by section 101(5) of H.R. 5666, Miscellaneous 
Appropriations Act, 2001, as enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations 
Act, 2001, Public Law 106-554, provides that the Secretary shall not 
use more than $2 million to carry out a program for income losses as a 
result of PEMS sustained before April 30, 2001, by individuals who 
raise poultry owned by other individuals.

Purpose

    The purpose of this notice is to inform affected parties that to 
receive benefits, contract growers must file application CCC-661 and 
provide the necessary documentation showing the number of birds that 
were destroyed and the number that would have been raised if there had 
been no need to depopulate the turkey houses. Subject to the 
availability of funds under the $2 million limit, applications will be 
accepted and approved using the same terms and conditions that apply to 
the Livestock Indemnity Program for Contract Growers (LIP-CG) that were 
published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2000, (65 F.R. 82892) 
revising 7 CFR Part 1439, Subpart E--Livestock Indemnity Program for 
Contract Growers with the following exceptions:
    (a) Eligibility applies only to turkey contract growers who 
depopulated their turkey houses at any time during the period of March 
1, 2000 through April 30, 2001 because of PEMS; and
    (b) Presidential or Secretarial natural disaster declarations are 
not necessary.
    Application for benefits due to PEMS for Jasper, Newton, Barry, 
McDonald , and Barton Counties in Missouri must be filed with the Farm 
Service Agency (FSA) in the local USDA Service Center servicing the 
county in which the affected turkey population is located no later than 
the final signup date yet to be determined by the Secretary but not 
before May 1, 2001.
    Contract growers of turkeys affected by PEMS in counties other than 
Jasper, Newton, Barry, McDonald, and Barton of Missouri, may contact 
Sharon Biastock by May 1, 2001, for further guidance on applying for 
benefits.
    After all applications are received, final eligibility 
determinations will be made. To the extent that eligible claims exceed 
the $2 million available, the agency will apportion the claims 
accordingly.

    Signed at Washington, DC, on March 22, 2001.
James R. Little,
Acting Executive Vice President, Commodity Credit Corporation.
[FR Doc. 01-7788 Filed 3-28-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-05-P