The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $8 billion available for one-time payments to American farmers this harvest season to provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs. USDA is asking producers outside the major row crops, including fishermen and specialty growers, to send information on their increased fuel costs to HarvestFuel@usda.gov. That information will help USDA decide how to allocate payments. Growers who write in may receive an auto-reply or follow-up questions that are geared more toward the commercial fishing sector. The East Coast Shellfish Growers Association is asking USDA to refine their approach to data collection for shellfish farmers. In the meantime, growers should continue to send in their information, answer what applies to your operation, and note that you are a shellfish farmer.