The offices of Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Agriculture Department (AAD) have announced the availability of funds for the 2009 Aquaculture Grant Program. 

The USDA has provided $20 million dollars for the U.S. aquaculture industry. The USDA, Farm Service Agency, and Credit Commodity Corporation provided these funds to assist fish farmers with losses associated with high feed cost in 2009.

Arkansas received $3 million dollars and will begin disbursing funds immediately after the sign-up deadline.

The AAD’s Aquaculture Division will hold three meetings to assist fish farmers in signing up for the 2009 feed assistance program. The meeting schedule is as follows:

• Monday, October 4, 2010 – 10:00 a.m.

            Guachoya Cultural Arts Center

            UAPB Lake Village Diagnostic Lab

            1652C Highway 65/82 South

            Lake Village, Ark.

• Tuesday, October 5, 2010 – 9:00 a.m.

            Lonoke Agriculture Center

            2100 Highway 70 East

            Lonoke, Ark.

• Wednesday, October 6, 2010 – 10:30 a.m.

            Craighead County Extension Building

            611 East Washington Ave., Ste. B

            Jonesboro, Ark.

Sign-up deadline for the program is Friday, October 8, 2010. Applications and guidelines are available at www.aad.ar.gov/aquaculture. If you have any questions regarding the program, contact Ted McNulty at (870) 575-8111 or by e-mail at tmcnulty@uaex.edu.