LITTLE ROCK — Farm disaster aid available in state
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has implemented a disaster-assistance program outlined in the 2008 farm bill, the Arkansas executive director of the Farm Service Agency, Linda Newkirk, said in a news release. The Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments program will provide assistance to farmers who lost crops or experienced a decline in quality because of natural disasters.
Producers in designated disaster areas who lost at least 10 percent of production on a significant crop, or those who had less than 50 percent of normal production because of a natural disaster, are eligible for the program.
The program will provide assistance equaling 60 percent of the difference between a farm’s total revenue and a guarantee based on the farm’s insurance coverage. With the exception of some “socially disadvantaged” producers such as beginning farmers and ranchers or those with limited resources, the producers must have crop insurance or noninsured-crop protection.
Eligible producers may contact their Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency county offices beginning Monday.
Pilgrim’s settles illegal-worker case
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp.
settled Wednesday with the U.S. attorney’s office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on a two-year investigation of identity theft and illegal alien employment.
The company has agreed to pay the federal government $4.5 million over the next three years as terms of the nonprosecution agreement.
In 2007 and 2008, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted work-site enforcement and identity-theft investigations at five Pilgrim’s Pride locations including Batesville. About 338 illegal workers were found as a result of the investigations.
As part of the settlement, Pilgrim’s Pride will enhance compliance programs.
Day ends down 1.24 for Arkansas Index
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, fell 1.24 to 168.67 Wednesday.
“U.S. markets finished slightly higher trading in a narrow range after a better-than-expected Chicago Purchasing manager’s report,” said John Blackwell, senior vice president and managing director of equity trading at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.
Volume was 16.2 million shares, compared with average volume of 27.3 million shares.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business, Pages 23 on 12/31/2009