RMA Program Announcement
USDA UNDER SECRETARY SCHUMACHER PRESENTS THE NEW AQUATIC CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM
TO MASSACHUSETTS CLAM PRODUCERS
Contact: Eric
Edgington (202) 690-2539
Eric.Edgington@rma.usda.gov
Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Aug 20, 1999 - At a meeting
with clam producers in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Under Secretary
for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services August Schumacher,
Jr., announced USDA's first pilot aquatic crop insurance product,
the Cultivated Clam Crop Insurance Program. Schumacher also serves
as Chairman of the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) Board
of Directors, which authorized the pilot program. Also appearing
at the meeting were Miley Gonzalez, Under Secretary of Research,
Education, and Economics and Ken Ackerman, Administrator of the
Risk Management Agency (RMA).
"These breakthrough programs can have a significant economic
impact on our $138 million a year hard-shell clam industry,"
said Schumacher. "We are striving hard to make sure that
all producersregardless of their crophave access to
affordable insurance protection. Today's action will help ensure
that clam producers are able to secure the credit they need to
build and expand their operations."
Clams were selected to be the first aquatic crop in part because
of their resistance to disease and because the crop can be secured
within boundaries.
The pilot program will provide coverage for clam producers
who harvest hard-shell clams. Covered counties include Brevard,
Dixie, Indian River, and Levy in Florida; Barnstable, Bristol,
Dukes, Nantucket, and Plymouth in Massachusetts; Beaufort
and Charleston in South Carolina; and Accomack and Northampton in Virginia for the 2000 through 2002 crop years. The program will provide protection based on the inventory value of
the clams. Covered losses will include oxygen depletion, disease,
freeze, hurricane, salinity variations, tidal wave, storm surge
or windstorm. The sales closing date for the program is November
30, 1999, in all approved locations.
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