Extension Session - Aquaculture America 2000

The USDA-Risk Management Agency (RMA)recently approved the first-ever pilot federal crop insurance program for an aquaculture species (hard clams)in selected counties in four states. This has been a rather arduous process for all involved parties in which several extension specialists from Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and Massachusetts provided pivotal assistance. We can likely expect more species to be included in crop insurance programs in the future based on actions by private insurance companies and priorities within RMA. At the upcoming AA 2000 conference in New Orleans a special session is being organized for persons with extension apppointments/responsibilies and others who have an interest in learning first-hand from your colleagues who helped launch this new program working with producers and RMA officials. I also became involved with senior RMA management officials in Kansas City, one of whom will also be making a presentation at the conference in a different session. Please refer to the below announcement from Leslie Sturmer, University of Florida, for more details on this special informal extension session. We hope you can attend. Its a great opportunity to interact with extension colleagues from around the country.

Regards,
Gary Jensen

Announcing a special extension session planned for Aquaculture America 2000 entitled "Update and Extension Involvement with the Development of a Federal Crop Insurance Program for Hard Clams". This informal session will be geared towards an extension audience providing a panal discussion on the development of a pilot crop insurance program for clam (quahog) growers in Massachusetts, Virginia, South Carolina and Florida. The session is scheduled for February 2, 2000 at 3:00 PM at the Marriott Hotel, New Oreans, LA. Contact Gary Jensen, USDA/CSREES(gjensen@reeusda.gov), or Leslie Sturmer, University of Florida (lnst@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu) for further information.

Leslie Sturmer