The state Department of Agriculture mailed out the first batch of checks Wednesday under the COVID-19 Emergency Farmer Relief Program.
DOA received 333 applications for the grants and awarded 106 proposals that ranged from $2,000 for individual farmers and ranchers and up to $10,000 for nonprofit organizations, commodity groups and agricultural associations that have experienced financial damage due to the COVID-19 emergency, the DOA announced.
The total funding for the program was $250,000 which was drawn from the state’s Agriculture Development and Food Security Special Fund and made available through Gov. Ige’s March 4 emergency proclamation.
The Ulupono Foundation contributed an additional $20,000 to specifically assist local pork producers with feed costs, because they can no longer rely on food scraps from closed restaurants.