Grants & Funding
News / Events
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Grants & Funding
Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA)
Farm Service Agency
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Support for Organic Growers
NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program
Grants Newsletter sign-up at Congresswoman Mazie Hirono's website
Farm Bill Program Assistance
Whole Foods' Local Producer Loan Program
Organic Certification Cost-Share program - Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA)
USDA ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST-SHARE PROGRAMS
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Agricultural Marketing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reimburse a portion of the cost of organic certification. The agreement is in effect between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013. Under the terms of this agreement, certified organic producers may be reimbursed 75% of the cost of their new or continued certification, up to a maximum of $750. This is a continuation of a previous cooperative agreement which expired on September 30, 2012. Funding available to reimburse qualified organic growers/producers is $65,000 for the covered period.
In previous years, USDA also offered a cost-share program for handlers; however, that program was no renewed for this grant period.
To visit the HDOA's Organic Cost-Share information page, click here.
To download the application form and instructions now, click here.
To download a W-9 Form (IRS Taxpayer ID Form) go to: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf
CONTACT INFO:
Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Development Division
Market Development Branch
1428 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512
Phone: (808) 973-9595
Fax: (808) 973-9590
Email: hdoa.md@hawaii.gov
Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA)
WUSATAWUSATA is a non-profit trade association comprised of 13 state-funded agricultural promotion agencies.
In conjunction with member organizations, WUSATA administer programs funded in part through the USDA/FAS Market Access Program (MAP) that help small agribusinesses to grow their global markets.
Services include:
• trade events and activities that target markets around the globe (Generic Program),
• 50% cost reimbursement on international marketing expenses (Branded Program), and
• Export education seminars and one-on-one meetings with an international marketing consultant (Export Education Program).
Over 24 yrs of Export Experience
The Western United States Agricultural Trade Association, also known as WUSATA, is a non-profit organization that promotes the export of food and agricultural products from the Western region of the United States. WUSATA, in conjunction with its 13 member states, provides a wide range of services to facilitate trade between local food companies and importers around the world. With 24 years of foreign market development experience, WUSATA has developed solid contacts with major supermarket retailers, food importers and distributors, and food service establishments in countries around the globe.
Supported by Federal and State Funds
WUSATA combines federal, state, and industry resources to carry out programs that help to increase exports of Western U.S. high-value food and agricultural products. WUSATA Generic Program activities are directed by 13 State Departments of Agriculture, and are funded through contributions from the Foreign Agricultural Service branch of the USDA, the State Departments of Agriculture, and private firms.
Helping U.S. Ag-Exporters
WUSATA is a vital link between international food buyers, Western U.S. suppliers, state agricultural agencies, and the U.S. government. Our services and activities include:
• export promotion,
• customized export assistance,
• a reimbursement funding program,
• international trade exhibitions,
• overseas trade missions,
• export seminars,
• in-country research, and
• point-of-sale promotions in foreign food chains and restaurants.
Additional information about these and other WUSATA services can be found throughout the WUSATA web site.
Farm Service Agency
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Support for Organic Growers
EQIP Organic Home Page
Information at Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF)
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.
In addition, the 2008 Farm Bill included provisions for use of EQIP to provide opportunities for organic growers as well as requirements related to adherence to National Organic Program (NOP) requirements and new program payment limitations.
Organic Technical and Support Information
EQIP Organic Correlation Matrix
NRCS Organic Technical Support
NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program
Conservation Stewardship ProgramFOR FULL INFORMATION VISIT THE CSP HOMEPAGEIntroductionThe Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by: • Undertaking additional conservation activities; and• Improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities. CSP is available on Tribal and private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land in all 50 States and the Caribbean and Pacific Islands Areas. The program provides equitable access to all producers, regardless of operation size, crops produced, or geographic location. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority for CSP to the NRCS Chief. Program DescriptionThrough CSP, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest lands, agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, and other private agricultural land (including cropped woodland, marshes, and agricultural land used for the production of livestock) on which resource concerns related to agricultural production could be addressed. Participation in the program is voluntary. CSP encourages land stewards to improve their conservation performance by installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities on agricultural land and nonindustrial private forest land. The NRCS will make CSP available nationwide on a continuous application basis. The entire operation must be enrolled and must include all eligible land that will be under the applicant's control for the term of the proposed contract that is operated substantially separate from other operations. CSP offers participants two possible types of payments: 1. Annual payment for installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities2. Supplemental payment for the adoption of resource-conserving crop rotations Pacific Islands Area CSP Contacts:Michael Whitt |
Grants Newsletter sign-up at Congresswoman Mazie Hirono's website
Receive updates on Grants Information from Congresswoman Hirono by signing up with this easy online form.
Farm Bill Program Assistance
Applications are being accepted from farmers and ranchers for three different Farm Bill Programs that are administered by the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The three programs include Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), and Agriculture Management Assistance (AMA).
Financial assistance is available through EQIP to agricultural producers who are willing to implement conservation measures which treat the targeted natural resource concerns on their land (including forestry, organic farming, and energy conservation). WHIP provides technical and financial assistance to improve fish and wildlife habitat. Previously, AMA was available in 15 states and Hawaii was just added as a qualifying state. This program addresses water management, erosion control, and integrated pest management.
Applications are accepted year-round for these three programs. Previous applications that were not selected/funded in the prior ranking cycle will be included for the following deadline. Interested farmers and ranchers are asked to call their local NRCS Field Office for more information. To find the office nearest you, visit www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov.USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
Whole Foods' Local Producer Loan Program
Contact: WFM online
