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MEDIA RELEASE U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service Administrator Bruce Lammers announced that USDA is making $150 million in grants available through the Community Facilities Program to help rural communities continue their recovery from the devastating effects of hurricanes, fires and other natural disasters. “When rural America thrives, all of America thrives,” Lammers […]

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is seeking sponsor organizations on all islands to help provide children in low-income communities with free meals during the summer months. The SFSP provides nutritious meals that help children to learn, play, and grow during the summer break when many schools are not in session.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting disaster assistance program applications on June 4 from agricultural producers who suffered livestock, honeybees, farm-raised fish and other losses due to natural disasters. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is reopening the application period for two disaster assistance programs in response to statutory changes made by Congress […]

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Although Hawaii’s drought depiction was largely unchanged, there was some further deterioration (mainly, expansion of severe drought, or extreme drought) on the lower leeward slopes of the Kohala Mountains on the Big Island due to declining pasture conditions.

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Below-normal rainfall on 1 to 3-month time scales led to abnormal dryness development on the lower Kona slopes on Hawaii Island.

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The Department of Land and Natural Resources’ (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, is now accepting applications for vacant seats on the Laupāhoehoe Advisory Council (LAC) and the Pu‘u Wa‘awa‘a Advisory Council (PAC) on Hawai‘i island.

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This school year, the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) will implement a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pilot program this school year at seven public schools, which will allow all students at those schools to receive free meal service.

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Hawaii 2014-2015 macadamia nut utilized production is estimated at 46.0 million pounds (net, wet-in-shell basis), up 12 percent from the previous season according to a survey conducted by the National Agricultural Statistics Service. A larger crop combined with favorable prices contributed to this season’s higher crop value.

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The trade winds were light to moderate last week on the Big Island. Light precipitation peppered the windward areas throughout the weekdays. As the weekend approached, there were heavier downpours in the Hilo and Puna districts. Leeward areas were mostly dry throughout the week with occasional showers in upper elevation. Rain showers occurred typically in […]

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MEDIA RELEASE The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made funds available that enable the State of Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide eligible farmers markets and direct marketing farmers with free electronic benefit transfer (EBT) equipment to process Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Administered through the Farmers Market Coalition (FMC), the […]

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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Hawaii County in Hawaii as a primary natural disaster area due damages and losses caused by wind, rain and flooding that occurred August 7-9, 2014. “Our hearts go out to those Hawaii farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

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Producers who have suffered eligible disaster-related losses are encouraged to act to secure assistance by September 30, 2014, as congressionally mandated payment reductions will take place for producers who have not acted before that date. Livestock producers that have experienced grazing losses since October 2011 and may be eligible for benefits but have not yet […]

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On the Big Island, damaged trees in the Puna district have continued to fall over in some areas affected by the past storm. Pastures in windward areas are greener than normal for this time of the year. Daily rainfall received around the island reduced the need for irrigation.

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The week started off with mostly clears skies, low relative humidity and cooler than normal temperatures. Trade winds blew vog and haze from the eastside of the island leaving skies clear early in the week. As the week progressed winds became much lighter and overcast skies prevailed. Heavy showers fell along the Hamakua coast mid-week; […]

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