In This Issue:
Join the Risk Management Agency (RMA) for a virtual workshop covering the ins and outs of the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection and Micro Farm programs, which are great insurance options for specialty crop, organic, urban, and other producers with diverse operations. RMA subject matter experts will provide an in-depth look at these policies and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions during this live event on Microsoft Teams. RSVP is not required.
Tuesday, November 15 - 6:00 p.m. HST
Join the Meeting Add to your calendar: iCalendar, Outlook and Google Calendar
Learn more about the RMA Virtual Roadshow series.
NRCS launched a new website designed for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to deliver and support its conservation mission. The site was designed to be relevant and timely delivering customer-focused information in an easy-to-navigate platform. Visit the new site to get familiar with the navigation accessing programs and services in the Pacific Islands Area.
The 2022 Farm Service Agency County Committee Elections began on Nov. 7, 2022, when ballots were mailed to eligible voters. The deadline to return ballots to local FSA offices, or to be postmarked, is Dec. 5, 2022.
County committee members are an important component of the operations of FSA and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA. Farmers and ranchers elected to county committees help deliver FSA programs at the local level, applying their knowledge and judgment to make decisions on commodity price support programs; conservation programs; incentive indemnity and disaster programs for some commodities; emergency programs and eligibility. FSA committees operate within official regulations designed to carry out federal laws.
To be an eligible voter, farmers and ranchers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program. A person who is not of legal voting age but supervises and conducts the farming operations of an entire farm, may also be eligible to vote. A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation(s) but may not have applied or received FSA program benefits.
Eligible voters in local administrative areas up for election, who do not receive a ballot can obtain one from their local USDA Service Center.
Newly elected committee members will take office Jan. 1, 2023.
The candidates in this year’s election are:
Guam County
Michelle Crisostomo is nominated in LAA 1-2, Guam County, to serve as a committee member for a 3-year-term. Crisostomo resides in Yona and has produced microgreens, fruits/vegetables and poultry for five years.
She is the Co-Founder and President of Guåhan Sustainable Culture (GSC), a non-profit organization with a mission to cultivate ideas and strategies of environmental sustainability within our local community through practical education, social engagement, and collaborative partnerships.
Saipan
Jo Anna Cabrera Ada is nominated in LAA 2-2, Saipan County, to serve as a committee member for a 3-year term. She is the Economic Development Coordinator for the CNMI Department of Commerce, in which she is primarily responsible for supporting the growth and expansion of the local agricultural sector.
Ada also manages the Marianas Food Bank, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to relieving hunger and food insecurity in the CNMI. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and cooking.
Jesus Manibusan Castro is also nominated for LAA2-2 in Saipan County to serve as a committee member for a 3-year term. Castro resides in Capital Hill and has produced numerous crops like cassava, breadfruit, coconut, bananas, and peppers which he turns into value-added products. He has also raised livestock and hogs since he was a young boy.
He currently is the treasurer for the Kagman Agriculture Farmers Producers Association. He has also served on many agricultural boards to include the Saipan Soil and Water Conservation District, Advisory Council for the Northern Marianas College, and Board of Director for the Garapan Farmer’s Market to name a few. Castro is also a retired US Army Reservist, former Fire Chief, and former member of the Guam Federation of Teachers.
Hawaii County
Roger Uchima is nominated in LAA 3, Hawaii County, to serve as a committee member for a 3-year term. Uchima resides in Hilo and has produced livestock for 20 years.
He is an active member of the Hawaii County FSA Committee and serves as Vice Chairperson.
Kauai County
Godwin M. Esaki is nominated in LAA 2, Kauai County, to serve as a committee member for a 3-year term. Esaki resides in Kapaa and has produced banana’s for over 40 years.
He is an active member of Kauai County Farm Bureau and serves as Board Member.
Maui County
Debra Kelly is nominated in LAA 3, Maui County, to serve as committee member. Mrs. Kelly resides in Hoolehua and has been the owner and operator of a goat and cattle operation for more than 30 years.
She is the current FSA Maui County Committee member representing Molokai and Lanai. She also works as a planner for the Molokai-Lanai Soil and Water Conservation District.
More information on county committees, such as the new 2022 fact sheet, can be found on the FSA website at fsa.usda.gov/elections or at a local USDA Service Center.
The Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) helps you manage risk through coverage for crop losses due to natural disasters. The eligible or “noninsured” crops include agricultural commodities not covered by federal crop insurance.
You must be enrolled in the program and have purchased coverage for the eligible crop in the crop year in which the loss incurred to receive program benefits following a qualifying natural disaster.
NAP Buy-Up Coverage Option
NAP offers higher levels of coverage, from 50 to 65 percent of expected production in 5 percent increments, at 100 percent of the average market price. Buy-up levels of NAP coverage are available if the producer can show at least one year of previously successfully growing the crop for which coverage is being requested.
Producers of organics and crops marketed directly to consumers also may exercise the “buy-up” option to obtain NAP coverage of 100 percent of the average market price at the coverage levels of between 50 and 65 percent of expected production.
NAP basic coverage is available at 55 percent of the average market price for crop losses that exceed 50 percent of expected production.
Buy-up coverage is not available for crops intended for grazing.
NAP Service Fees
For all coverage levels, the NAP service fee is the lesser of $325 per crop or $825 per producer per county, not to exceed a total of $1,950 for a producer with farming interests in multiple counties.
NAP Enhancements for Qualified Military Veterans
Qualified veteran farmers or ranchers are eligible for a service fee waiver and premium reduction, if the NAP applicant meets certain eligibility criteria.
Beginning, limited resource and targeted underserved farmers or ranchers remain eligible for a waiver of NAP service fees and premium reduction when they file form CCC-860, “Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource and Beginning Farmer or Rancher Certification.”
For NAP application, eligibility and related program information, contact your County USDA Service Center or visit fsa.usda.gov/nap. December 31, 2022 is the deadline to apply for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for fruit, grass, honey and vegetable crops.
The first Pacific Islands Area application cutoff for ranking in Fiscal Year 2023 is November 18, 2022. While USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) accepts applications for these programs year-round, applications for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program, and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) submitted before Nov. 18th will be considered for this year’s funding. More information can be found on the NRCS website.
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NRCS is encouraging farmers to keep their tillage equipment in the machine shed during No-Till November. No-till farming is a cornerstone soil health conservation practice, which also promotes water quality, while saving time and money. Not disturbing the soil makes it less likely to be washed away by winter rains and allows biological activity to increase and provide soil health benefits.
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America’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to be represented in the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will mail the 2022 Census of Agriculture to millions of agriculture producers across the 50 states and Puerto Rico this fall.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed in phases, starting with an invitation to respond online in November followed by paper questionnaires in December. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural product in 2022 are included in the ag census.
Collected in service to American agriculture since 1840 and now conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census of Agriculture tells the story and shows the value of U.S. agriculture. It highlights land use and ownership, producer characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, among other topics. Between ag census years, NASS considers revisions to the questionnaire to document changes and emerging trends in the industry. Changes to the 2022 questionnaire include new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep, and updates to internet access questions.
To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit nass.usda.gov/AgCensus or call 800-727-9540. On the website, producers and other data users can access frequently asked questions, past ag census data, partner tools to help spread the word about the upcoming ag census, special study information, and more. For highlights of these and the latest information on the upcoming Census of Agriculture, follow USDA NASS on twitter @usda_nass.
Are you a farmer, rancher or forest manager? Please share your vital feedback with USDA by taking a nationwide survey at farmers.gov/survey! The survey is completely anonymous, will take about 10 minutes to complete, is available in multiple languages, and will be open until March 31, 2023. The survey focuses on gathering feedback about the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency.
All farmers, ranchers and forest managers are encouraged to take the survey. USDA would especially like to hear from prospective customers: those who don’t know about USDA or have yet to work with USDA, and those who were unable to participate in the past. The survey will help USDA enhance support, improve programs and services, increase access, and advance equity for new and existing customers.
The Honolulu County Farm Service Agency (FSA) office is hiring a full time, temporary Program Technician (PT) not to exceed September 20, 2023. The deadline to apply is November 21, 2022.
Duties include general office activities supporting FSA programs administered at the field level. Successful applicants must be reliable, have a professional attitude and enjoy working with the public. Click here for the direct link to the position with information on how to apply: Program Technician Job Announcement.
Applications must be received no later than close of business November 21, 2022.
Farm Operating- Direct 4.375%
Farm Operating - Microloan 4.375%
Farm Ownership - Direct 4.500%
Farm Ownership - Microloan 4.500%
Farm Ownership - Direct, Joint Financing 2.500%
Farm Ownership - Down Payment 1.500%
Emergency Loan - Amount of Actual Loss 3.750%
November 7, 2022 - County Committee Election ballots mailed to eligible voters
December 5, 2022 - Last day to return completed ballots to the USDA Service Center
December 31, 2022 - Deadline to apply for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for fruit, grass, honey and vegetable crops. Click here for more information: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistanceprogram/noninsured-cropdisaster-assistance/index
January 1, 2023 - Newly elected county committee members take office
January 30, 2023 - Deadline to apply for the 2022 Disaster Assistance for Livestock Forage Program (LFP)
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