USDA Extends Shellfish Crop Insurance Program to Five Texas Counties

(Oklahoma City, Okla., Sept. 11, 2026) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced that Texas oyster producers in select counties are now eligible for protection through RMA's Shellfish crop insurance program, beginning with the 2027 crop year. The program provides yield-based coverage for container-grown oysters commercially cultivated for the fresh, half-shell market, and is now available in Aransas, Calhoun, Galveston, Matagorda and Nueces counties.

"At RMA, we are working to improve and increase the availability of Federal crop insurance to help American producers manage their risk more effectively," said RMA Administrator Pat Swanson. "The Shellfish crop insurance program is a valuable risk management tool for the oyster industry. I'm excited to extend the availability of this program to Texas oyster producers."

Producers with coverage through the Shellfish crop insurance program are protected against eligible losses, including qualifying storms, excessive heat, freeze or low salinity caused by excessive rain.

The Shellfish pilot crop insurance program is an actual production history-price component (APH-PC) plan of insurance, allowing the producer to select the percentage of the average yield to insure, ranging from 50% to 75%, and the percentage of the crop price to insure, between 55% and 100%, as established annually by RMA. At an additional cost, producers can elect to increase their insurable price above the published price election using their historical sales records.

Interested producers should contact a crop insurance agent prior to the sales closing date, Nov. 30, 2026, to enroll for the 2027 crop year. Additional information and resources can be found on RMA's website.

More Information

RMA secures the future of agriculture by providing world class risk management tools to rural America through Federal crop insurance and risk management education programs. RMA provides policies for more than 130 crops and is constantly working to adjust and create new policies based on producer needs and feedback.

Contact a crop insurance agent to see how Federal crop insurance can meet the specific needs of your operation. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available online at the RMA Agent Locator. Producers can learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting their RMA Regional Office. RMA's Basics for Beginners provides information for those new to crop insurance.

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