North Carolina Sea Grant, in cooperation with Carteret Community College and the North Carolina Shellfish Growers Association, is sponsoring a Shellfish Producer Meeting that will be held at 6 PM on Tuesday, August 25 in Room 305 of the CMAST building in Morehead City. The meeting will provide an overview of USDA Farm Service Agency Programs available to shellfish producers including farm loans, the Noninsured Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), and the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The meeting will include instructions for completing applications for the NAP program that are due September 1. The meeting will also include updates on research activities and legislation affecting the shellfish industry.

Refreshments will be provided. Please contact Vanda Lewis with NC Sea Grant at (252) 222-6307 or vanda_lewis@ncsu.edu to register. Please note that the meeting will be limited to the first 50 persons who register.

If you cannot attend and wish to learn more detail about the available FSA programs contact Kay Yates with USDA FSA at (252) 637-3567 or kay.yates@nc.usda.gov

The CMAST building is located off of Highway 70 on the west side of Carteret Community College and the address is 303 College Circle.