Commercial growers who have sustained crop or other agricultural damage in this latest round of storms may qualify for financial aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those who sell their produce and have crops that have been damaged and/or those with agricultural businesses that have been negatively impacted in any of the recent floods should consider applying for help.
The USDA through the Hawaii Island branch of the Farm Service Agency will likely have funds to cover a portion of the damages. You can explore the possibilities by contacting FSA’s Hawaii County’s Executive Director Lester Ueda by email to Lester.Ueda@hi.usda.gov or calling 933-8341. A wealth of information on FSA disaster assistance programs is also available online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/disaster_assistance_program.pdf or http://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/index where you can find a program that fits your situation. Be sure to check out the Fact Sheet on the Emergency Conservation Program, as well.
With damaging weather occurrences seemingly on the rise, you might also want to talk to someone at FSA about NAP (Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program) that insures crops that may not be covered by standard USDA subsidized crop insurance programs. Program fees for limited resource producers, beginning farmers and minorities may be reduced or waived. Be sure to ask about this if think you qualify.
To get NAP coverage for specialty crops you may need to first check with a crop insurance specialist to be sure your crops cannot be insured through one of the USDA subsidized crop insurance programs. The USDA Risk Management Agency, works with several mainland insurance agents offering federally supported policies covering losses in coffee, bananas, papayas, mac nuts, cattle and nursery operations, as well as other crops. You can contact agents Bonnie Lind in California at agsecure@sbcglobal.net or 888-276-7728 or Evan Thomas in Oregon at 541-296-1287 for information on these policies.
With any insurance program, as well as FSA disaster recovery programs, you need to report damage soon after it happens. Before beginning cleanup, even essential road-clearing, contact FSA for instructions. It is important to document the damage with clear, well-focused photographs featuring a digitally inserted date, if possible. Check your inventory carefully and report anything that was damaged or is missing because of the storm.
Applying for disaster assistance is not difficult. You need only provide your name, the location of your damaged property and a description of the damages to any crops or orchards, farm animals, farm roads or structures. The Farm Service Agency is happy to accept applications for review and gives each full consideration for program applicability.
Encouraging other growers to report damage as well can hasten the release of USDA funds for these storms. The USDA is committed to supporting agriculture by keeping farming profitable and farmers successful. Our tax dollars are paying for these programs, so reporting losses and applying for financial assistance for your farm or business is your right as a taxpayer.
If you have damage that does not qualify for reimbursement or you need help to get the recovery started, low-interest loans are also offered by FSA. The loan manager in the Hilo office is Linda Kow. Contact her at 933-8343 for more information. The Hawaii FSA Executive Director Diane Ley emphasized that the agency’s microloans program can help new farmers wanting experience in managing credit and building an agricultural business. She also iterated the agency’s dedication to seeing farmers succeed and reinforced its commitment to work with small family operations, minorities, women and youth.
To insure that FSA farm programs are meeting the needs of local producers, they have established a Hawaii County Committee to exchange information with the agency. Members of the committee are elected annually to serve a three-year term. This committee is often responsible for making decisions on many FSA disaster, conservation and commodity price support programs. Interested producers are encouraged to seek election to this committee as a way to offer input to FSA on their experience and that of other farmers and ranchers in their community. Committee members are a valuable asset to FSA as well as their local communities.
For more information about the many services offered by FSA go to www.fsa.usda.gov/hi. At the site you can sign-up for a monthly e-newsletter and bulletins by clicking on the “Going Green” icon. If you would like personal questions answered or more information call the Hawaii County FSA office for an appointment at 933-8381.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living on an organic farm in Captain Cook.
Tropical gardening helpline
Ingrid asks: A friend from Hilo has cut down several dead ohia trees from his property and we thought we could use them to make raised beds for our garden here in Kona. He said we were not allowed to move ohia logs from one place on the island to another. Is this true?
Tropical Gardener Answer: Yes, it is true. On Aug. 25, the Board of Agriculture passed an interim rule prohibiting the movement of Metrosideos genus plants including ohia, within the state. The Ceratocystisis wilt disease that is resulting in Rapid Ohia Death is caused by a fungus that remains alive and communicable in all parts of the plant even after it is dead.
Moving any part of ohia trees, living or dead, is prohibited to avoid spreading the fungus.
Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by Certified Master Gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
Gardening events
Thursday to Sept. 30: 25th annual Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers Association Conference. Go to www.hawaiitropicalfruitgrowers.org for information or to register or call Ken Love at 323-2417 or email Ken@mycoffee.net
Farmers markets
Wednesday: Hooulu Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay
Wednesday: Sunset Farmers Market, 2 p.m. to sunset at the north makai corner of the Kmart parking lot
Saturday: Keauhou Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
Sunday: South Kona Green Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy B. H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden in Captain Cook
Monday to Saturday: U-Pick greens and produce, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tropical Edibles Nursery in Captain Cook
Plant advice lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon at UH Cooperative Extension Service in Kainaliu, 322-4892.
Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo, 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu.