Categorized | Agriculture

Federal workshops on natural disaster assistance

MEDIA RELEASE

With only two months left in the year, 2010 has presented Hawaii’s agricultural growers with multiple challenges, including a drought, vog, new pests and diseases, as well as an ailing economy. Now there is one more “threat” to the local farming community: a major change in national disaster assistance rules.

The USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA’s) Disaster Assistance Programs are now directly linked to federal crop insurance — which means producers must obtain crop insurance to be eligible for the FSA disaster funds.

For those crops that are non-insurable — such as vegetables, cut flowers, animals, cacao, taro, and fruit other than bananas and papayas — coverage must be obtained under the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP).

With this in mind, the UH Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ Local Immigrant and Farmer Education (LIFE) program and other co-sponsors are offering workshops statewide for growers to learn about crop insurance, disaster assistance, and risk management.

Companion workshops on the topic of Farm Recordkeeping are also being offered.

Workshop information on all islands

* Oahu
Crop Insurance & Disaster Assistance workshop is 5-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16 at the Kaneohe CES Office. A Farm Recordkeeping workshop has not yet been scheduled. Contact Stuart Nakamoto, professor and extension economist in the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences at CTAHR, at (808) 956-8125 or snakamo@hawaii.edu.

* Maui
Crop Insurance & Disaster Assistance workshop is 5-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7. A Farm Recordkeeping workshop is 5-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3. Both events are at the Kahului CES Office. RSVP three days prior to an event with Robin at (808) 244-3242 ext. 231 or via email sent to ShimabukuR@ctahr.hawaii.edu.

* Kauai
Crop Insurance & Disaster Assistance workshop is 4-6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22. A Farm Recordkeeping workshop is 4-6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13. Both events are at the Lihue State Office Building #209, 3060 Eiwa St. RSVP three days prior to an event with Richard at (808) 274-3475 or via email sent to rebesu@hawaii.edu.

* Big Island
Four Crop Insurance & Disaster Assistance workshops and at least four Farm Recordkeeping workshops scheduled throughout the county from Monday, Nov. 8, to Friday, Nov. 19. Contact Kathy or Andrew for Hilo workshops at (808) 981-5199, Joan for Kona workshops at (808) 322-0166, Perci or Randy for Waimea workshops at (808) 887-6183, or Tony for Ocean View workshops at (808) 922-9224 or nzthirtytwo@e-mailhawaii.net.

The workshops are co-sponsored by CTAHR, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, LIFE (Local Immigrant and Farmer Education) Hawaii, and the Farm Service Agency.

For more information, contact Nakamoto at (808) 956-8125 or snakamo@hawaii.edu.

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