Offsets Long-Distance Transportation Costs for Farmers and Ranchers Outside the Contiguous U.S. HONOLULU, Hawaii, March 15, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced nearly $3.9 million will be issued to 1,134 producers through the 2023 Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment (RTCP) program beginning on March 14, 2024. The RTCP reimburses eligible farmers and ranchers outside the contiguous U.S., including those in Hawaii and the Pacific, for a portion of the cost of transporting agricultural products or inputs used to produce an agricultural ..read more

Barrigada, Guam, February 5, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director Ilene Iriarte today announced that Maui County is accepting applications for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from Typhoon Bolaven in Rota, Saipan and Tinian Counties. ECP signup  is open now and will end on April 5, 2024. The approved ECP practices under this authorization include debris removal to address high winds damage to eligible farmland, livestock fences and conservation structures and installations ..read more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an online application for Direct Loan customers. More than 26,000 customers who submit a Direct Loan application each year can now use an online, interactive, guided application that is paperless and provides helpful features including an electronic signature option, the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns, complete a balance sheet and build a farm operating plan. This tool is part of a broader effort by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) to streamline its processes, improve customer service ..read more

(HONOLULU, Hawaii), November 29, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Joy Kono today announced that FSA is now accepting applications for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) for grazing losses due to drought in Kauai and Honolulu Counties. The deadline to apply for 2023 LFP assistance is Jan. 30, 2024. LFP provides compensation to eligible livestock producers who suffered grazing losses for covered livestock due to drought on privately owned or cash leased land or fire on federally managed land. For LFP, qualifyi ..read more

KAHULUI, HI., November 27, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting applications for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address wildfire and severe storm damages in Maui County. Signup for EFRP begins Nov. 27, 2023, and ends Jan. 25, 2024. “All eligible landowners in Maui county are encouraged to apply for assistance by the deadline,” said FSA County Executive Director James Robello. “If you haven’t participated in FSA programs, contact the Maui County FSA office as soon as possible to establish customer and farm records and determi ..read more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mailed ballots for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county and urban county committee elections to all eligible agricultural producers and private landowners across the country. Elections are occurring in certain Local Administrative Areas for these committee members who make important decisions about how Federal farm programs are administered locally. Producers and landowners must return ballots to their local FSA county office or have their ballots postmarked by Dec. 4, 2023, for those ballots to be counted.     ..read more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2023 - The U. S Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide more than $3 billion to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2022. Eligible impacted producers can apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) 2022. The program will help offset the financial impacts of crop yield and value losses from qualifying disasters occurring in 2022. “2022 was another year of weather-related challenges — for some, the third consecutive year or more in a row. The financial impact to a family farm or ranch in ..read more

Agricultural producers and landowners have chosen conservation on more than 23 million acres of private land nationwide   WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued more than $1.77 billion this year to agricultural producers and landowners through its Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a critical piece of the Department’s efforts to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry on working lands. Right now, CRP’s more than 667,000 participants received payments from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) for their voluntary conservation efforts on more th ..read more

Funding Available to Help Restore Lands to Pre-Disaster Condition, Replace or Repair Fencing   October 16, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for accepting Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) applications from Maui agricultural producers who need assistance to address damages from wildfires and high winds that occurred August 2023. Maui County in Hawaii was approved to implement ECP for damage caused by wildfires and high winds.  The application deadline has been extended to December 11, 2023. "We understand the extent of the damage ..read more

Department Incorporates Stakeholder Feedback to Ensure Maximum Reach WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the deadline for the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program to January 13, 2024, to give eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners more time to apply for assistance. The original deadline was October 31, 2023. This deadline extension is responsive to feedback from potential applicants, nongovernmental program administrators and community-based organizations working closely with USDA to inform and assist eligible individuals. The new ..read more