Pilot Aquatic Crop Insurance Product Announced

August 23, 1999

USDA has announced the first pilot aquatic crop insurance product -- for cultivated clams. Under Secretary August Schumacher, Jr., unveiled the details at a meeting in Wellfleet, MA.Counties in four states are affected.

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, according to USDA. The program will cover clam producers who harvest hard-shell calms in selected counties in Florida, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Virginia for the 2000 through 2002 crop years.

Covered losses will include oxygen depletion, disease, freeze, hurricane, salinity variations, tidal wave, storm surge or wind storm. The sales closing date for the program is Nov. 30 in all approved locations.