Risk Assessment and Management for Shellfish Growers Workshops

June 11-13, 2024

Shellfish growers are confronted with countless decisions incorporating various levels of risk throughout the production of their crops. These workshops help growers to:

1.  assess how their farms are prepared to handle disasters;
2. determine environmental, economic, and business risks;
3. review what crop insurance and disaster assistance programs are available to protect their operations from these risks; and
4. learn what additional resources and tools are available to improve risk management.

Agenda

Presentations (pdf)

Topics and guest speakers included:

• Welcome and Introduction to Risks in Shellfish Aquaculture
  Leslie Sturmer, University of Florida/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant
• Shellfish Aquaculture Resilience Index: A Self-Assessment
  Russell Grice, Auburn University, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
• Production and Market Risks: A GIS Mapping Tool
  Lucas Clay, EcoSolve LLC, Clemson University
• Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance Program Options
  Steven Richards, Clemson University, SC Center for Cooperative Enterprise Development
• Resources and Tools to Evaluate and Manage Risks
  Leslie Sturmer; Andrew Ropicki, Florida Sea Grant; Sarah Pedigo, South Carolina Sea Grant
• Business Structure and Liability Insurance Considerations
  Steven Richards, Clemson University
  

Insurance and Disaster Program Options

• Summary Tables for Florida Clam Growers
• Summary Tables for Florida Oyster Growers

USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Program Fact Sheets

• Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP)
• Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP)

USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) Program Fact Sheets

• Shellfish Crop Insurance Program
• Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index Endorsement
• Whole-Farm Revenue Protection
• Micro Farm Program

Resources

• Shellfish Farming Resilience Index
• Financial Risk in Florida Oyster Culture
• Florida Oyster FARM (Financial And Risk Model) Calculator
• Budget for Existing Florida Clam Farms
• Alabama Enterprise Budget for Oyster Farms
• South Carolina Oyster Farming Business Planning Tool
• Estimating Farm Size and Gear Costs for Oyster Culture
• Hurricane Planning Guides for Off-bottom Oyster Farms (Website)
• Hurricane Planning Guides for Off-bottom Oyster Farms (pdf file)
• Clam Farm Inventory Reporting Workbook (Excel file)
• Clam Farm Monthly Inventory Reporting Sheet (pdf file)
• Oyster Farm  Monthly Inventory Reporting Sheet (Excel file)
• Oyster Farm  Monthly Inventory Reporting Sheet (pdf file)

Video