Louisiana aquaculture producers with recorded losses associated with high feed inputs during the 2008 calendar may qualify for financial aid under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will receive $2.4 million. Federal guidelines for the program require that feed costs for eligible aquaculture species must be 25 percent or more of the total production costs. Eligible species in Louisiana include catfish, turtles, baitfish, tilapia and crawfish.
Producers will be required to demonstrate that their feed costs are at least 25 percent of the 5-year average. Producers will need to provide their:
- W-9
- 2008 feed tonnage report (Click here for Sample Report)
- Certification letter from the feed mill certifying tons purchased in 2008 and the average feed price paid by the aquaculture producer in the 2008 calendar year (Click here for Sample Letter)
Invoices will not be accepted.
Producers that are not individuals (like partnerships) will be required to establish a Dun and Bradstreet universal numbering system (DUNS) or update an existing DUNS number at www.dnb.com.
Also, producers that are not individuals are also required to register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database or update an existing registration with CCR at www.ccr.gov.
For more information, please contact Dr. Carrie Castille at 225-922-1234 or ccastille@ldaf.state.la.us.