When: Wednesday May 28, 2025 3:30 – 4:30 PM                          

Where: ZOOM (link here: https://ufl.zoom.us/j/91040197443?pwd=lxbsS6Ws1Rn0bqmjllLLJPvSPfWCZ4.1)

What:  Introduction to a new project (Developing an efficient marker panel to develop southern hard clam aquaculture) that aims to establish an efficient marker panel for southern hard clams (M. campechiensis), allowing for rapid genetic testing.

Why: Meet project team, provide feedback on objectives, ask questions, identify potential collaborations.

Who: Anyone interested in genetic identification of their products, including shellfish growers, hard clam restoration practitioners and resource managers.

Producers who suffered eligible losses for the 2024 program year prior to the publication of this rule may submit documents or make changes to previously filed documents for these programs by the new deadline of March 1, 2025, even if the previous deadline had passed.

Farm Service Agency has made a change to the Code of Federal Regulations to specify that the deadline to file a notice of loss, an application for payment, and required documentation for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm- Raised Fish Program (ELAP),) is March 1 following the end of the applicable program year, which is based on the calendar year for the three programs.

The deadline changes are effective beginning with the 2024 program year, which began on January 1, 2024.

This change was announced via the Federal Register on January 17, 2025.  To read or download and print the notice, please click here.

 NAA Editor Note: Local FSA offices may not know about this change. Be prepared to share the Federal Register notice or point them to the Code of Federal Regulations. To find the regulation change, please click on eCFR :: 7 CFR Part 1416 -- Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Programs and scroll down to § 1416.107 Notice of Loss and Application Period.

Sourced from: National Aquaculture Association

The Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association (FSAA) and the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association (CKAA) in partnership with UF/IFAS and Florida Sea Grant are hosting a virtual workshop for shellfish industry members on Tuesday, January 14th from 2:00-4:00 pm est to debrief the impacts of the 2024 hurricanes on our industry and discuss mechanisms to increase resilience and response after disasters. 

We want to hear from you about how you were affected, what supports you think are missing for the industry, and develop ideas about where we go from here.

This workshop serves as an opportunity to connect, to support each other as we begin a new year and also to come up with concrete actions to make our farms more resilient for the future.

Please RSVP by following this link. You will receive a follow up email with zoom call-in instructions after you register.

There will be a financial incentive to compensate industry members for their time and participation thanks to a grant from the National Sea Grant office. FSAA will follow up with each farmer directly to facilitate payment by check or Venmo.

KILL THE DRILL PRESS CONFERENCE

FDEP Headquarters (front steps)

3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399

Monday, December 9th at 1 PM Eastern

Join us Monday, December 9th, at 1 pm Eastern when we gather in front of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) headquarters in Tallahassee to PROTECT OUR BAY by calling on Governor DeSantis to Kill the Drill in the Apalachicola River Basin. 

Clearwater Land & Minerals, a Louisiana company, wants to drill for oil and gas beside the river. On April 26, 2024, DEP quietly issued a “notice of intent” stating that they planned to give them the drilling permit. This move undermines the significant investment by the State of Florida in protecting this valuable ecosystem for the last 50 years. It also threatens hundreds of our community business owners whose livelihoods depend on the bay and river. They are the oyster farmers, beekeepers, boat captains, seafood restaurants, and small businesses who make up the backbone of our coastal communities.

Join them along with local electeds and conservationists from across the region at a press conference to remind Governor DeSantis that he can and should immediately tell FDEP to rescind all support for the permit. It is completely within the Governor’s power to fix this.  

We will have posters and buttons for you when you arrive. Please bring your colleagues, friends, and family to take this critical stand!