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SAVE THE DATE! The UF/IFAS Shellfish Extension Program is hosting an Oyster Culture Workshop on May 30, 2024, from 3-5pm at FSU Coastal and Marine Lab, Auditorium and via zoom https://ufl.zoom.us/j/92286238028. Updates and results of projects conducted by UF and the FSU Coastal and Marine Lab will be provided. For more information, contact Leslie Sturmer, Lnst@ufl.edu.

The Florida Farm TEAM Card is a convenient way for farmers to claim applicable agricultural sales tax exemptions. The plastic, wallet-sized card is a physical alternative to the paper exemption certificates. The TEAM card does not expand or create agricultural exemptions beyond those already provided in Florida Statute. A list of sales tax exemptions for aquaculture businesses can be found here: https://ccmedia.fdacs.gov/content/download/78423/file/FDACS-P-01781-SalesTaxExemptionsforAquacultureBusinesses.pdf. To obtain a TEAM Card, growers must complete an Application for a Florida Farm Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials (TEAM) Card (Form DR-1 TEAM) by applying  online or obtaining a copy of the form to apply by mail at

February 7th and 13th, 3 – 5 p.m. UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station 552 1st Street, Cedar Key, FL Eligible clam farmers and businesses that were affected by Hurricane Idalia are able to receive funding to cover wages, clean up, recovery, and more. Attend one of two information sessions to learn how CareerSource of Citrus Levy Marion Counties can offset the expense of restoring your operation–at no cost to you. Here’s what you’ll learn about: 1) How disaster assistance programs can help you pay your workers, 2) How this funding can be used in clean up and recovery efforts. If

Aquatic farmers who have not completed the 2023 Census of Aquaculture conducted by US Department of Agriculture have until March 1 to do so. The Census can be completed online at USDA – National Agricultural Statistics Service – Surveys – Census of Aquaculture. Last conducted for production year 2018, the Census of Aquaculture will yield current industry-specific data. This information is used by federal, state, and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, and producers to make decisions impacting the sustainability and growth of the US aquaculture. The data is also used to support and justify federal and state research, education, extension,

To all Cedar Key Clam Growers, Please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey at your earliest convenience. Information about this survey can be found below. We would like to have responses back by January 22nd. Click on this link to open the survey https://forms.gle/2xH7ov7XMXq3vrFEA.  If you have any questions or problems accessing the survey link, contact Leslie Sturmer at Lnst@ufl.edu or Rose Cantwell at cantwellrr@bellsouth.net.