News / Events
HOFA's 18th annual membership meeting
September 26, 2010 - September 26, 2010
Contact:
808-969-7789 toll-free: 1-877-ORG-ISLE (674-4753)
hofa@hawaiiorganic.org
HOFA ceasing certification activities in 2011
July 1, 2010 - October 1, 2011
Contact:
HOFA Hilo office: 969-7789
hofa@hawaiiorganic.org
USDA NOP instructions for changing certifying agents
Grants & Funding
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
Hawaii State Senate OK’s more than $34M for Hawaii Ag projects
USDA: $19 MILLION IN ORGANIC RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION GRANTS
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
For the Application Form, click here
For the W-9 Form (Tax Form), click here
CONTACT INFO:
Hawai'i 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
E-mail: hdoa.md@hawaii.gov
HDOA homepage
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
NRCS National Bulletin with Guidance for Implementation of the Organic Initiative during Fiscal Year 2009 (NB300-9-20 issued May 18, 2009)
NRCS Organic Technical Support
Links to Organic Agriculture Web Resources
NRCS Technical Service Provider Information
2009 Organic Farming Program Information
The documents below require Adobe Acrobat Reader:
Organic Farming “At a Glance” Fact Sheet (PDF, 52KB)
NRCS Organic Guidance Bulletin for Fiscal Year 2009 (PDF, 212KB)
NRCS Organic State Contacts List (PDF, 21KB)
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.
Hawaii State Senate OK’s more than $34M for Hawaii Ag projects
Hawaii247.org's Agriculture pages
Direct to the source
Hawaii will receive $34,010,000 for agriculture initiatives this fiscal year including funds to eradicate fruit flies, improve the plight of geographically disadvantaged farmers and expand research, Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye and Sen. Daniel K. Akaka announced Thursday.
Of special interest to organic producers is this item:
Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center Staffing – $700,000 – Island of Hawaii
This request is for staffing the completed portion of the PBARC laboratory. With the completion of Phase I construction, it is essential that additional funds be provided to PBARC to begin execution of staffing plans for this new laboratory facility. The two priority areas on the staffing plan are a scientist focused on sustainable and organic agriculture; and, a scientist to develop new value added products, especially as they relate to crops that can be used for feeds and that may be used for biofuels.
USDA: $19 MILLION IN ORGANIC RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION GRANTS
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan Announces $19 Million in Organic Research, Education and Extension Grants
Emphasizes importance of 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' Initiative
PORTLAND, Maine, October 30, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced more than $19 million in grants have been awarded to universities across the country to solve critical organic agriculture issues through the integration of research, education and extension projects.
"Organic agriculture is one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture and USDA and Congress, through the 2008 Farm Bill, are committed to helping this industry succeed by addressing critical organic agriculture issues through the integration of research, education and extension projects," Merrigan said. "These grants are an important part of USDA's new 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative, which will help develop local and regional food systems and spur economic opportunity by assisting organic producers with new production and marketing practices to meet rising consumer demand."
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