Oyster FARM (Financial And Risk Model) Calculator
Risk in oyster farming is any event that a grower cannot control but affects the grower’s operation. However, various types of risk can be forecasted based on historical events and trends. A financial tool has been developed using these findings, which allows oyster growers to generate predictive costs and revenues for their farms and investment situation. This Calculator, developed using Microsoft Excel, quantifies environmental and economic risks associated with oyster culture using damage reports, grower estimates, and historical data. First, growers enter their individual farm information over a 5-year planning period. Then, risks based on probabilities determined for four counties (Escambia, Franklin, Levy, Wakulla) on Florida’s west coast are applied to determine potential net income values. The Calculator allows oyster growers to better understand how risk affects profitability.
