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Questions & Answers

Questions & Answers*1.    MDA is Set to Distribute Federal Funds to Michigan
Organic Handlers/Producers.*

* *

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director, Don Koivisto
announced today that MDA has signed a cooperative agreement with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to distribute federal funds to Michigan
organic handlers/producers for reimbursement of certification costs.

This program will reimburse organic handlers/producers for up to %75 of the
cost of certification not to exceed $750.  The current reimbursement period
is October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008.  MDA will only receive
applications until the cutoff date of June 8, 2009.

Organic handlers/producers are required to submit a completed application,
along with the required support documentation to receive reimbursement for
the certification costs.

The cost share program application is available on MDA’s web-site at

The http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mda/mda_Cost_Share_Letter_275624_7.pdf


*1.      **Public Comments Needed from Fruit and Vegetable Growers. *

The 2008 Farm Bill contained various changes to the Farm Storage Facility
Loan Program. The addition of cold storage is at the secretary’s discretion.
Public meetings, for public comments, were held April 14, 2009 in Kansas
City, KS and on April 15, 2009 in Cleveland, OH.  There weren’t any fruit or
vegetable growers at the meetings, so there was no input on the need for
cold storage.

Public comments will be received through May 13, 2009. Comments can be
submitted by Mail: FSFL PEA, Geo-Marine Incorporated, 2713 Magruder Blvd,
Suite D, Hampton, VA 23666-1572 or Internet: http://public.geo-marine.com

There is a copy of the Federal Register containing the information
pertaining to the FSFL program on the home page of the Michigan Organic web
site: www.MichiganOrganic.msu.edu

If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar
 http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html