Celebrate Ag Day

Buy Local IT MATTERS

Buy Local IT MATTERS

 

The Buy Fresh, Buy Local campaign is now the Buy Local, It Matters campaign that aims to encourage residents to support Hawaii farmers by making conscious decisions to purchase locally grown produce.

This campaign began as a joint project involving the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR), the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture in 2005.  As a community service the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) also sponsors the printing of the Buy Fresh – Buy Local Seasonality Chart, which contains information on when local produce is in season.

Free Valued Added Workshop

HOLUALOA, HAWAI'I - A workshop entitled "Value-Added Innovation for Hawai'i Growers: Making the Family Farm Profitable" will help growers hone their skills at adding value to their products and services. The free workshop will be held on March 20^th in Hilo, March 21^st in Kona, March 27^th on Kaua'i, March 28^th on O'ahu, and March 29^th on Maui.
Competing with cheap imported agricultural goods, many Hawai'i farms have a difficult time selling their products profitably as raw commodities. The workshop will show how Hawai'i farm enterprises can differentiate their products to become more profitable, and therefore viable businesses.
"Small-farm enterprises are a crucial component of Hawai'i's agriculture as we attempt to meet the diversity of our food needs," says Dr. Robert Paull, an expert in crop quality at University of Hawai'i, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. "These enterprises need to be sustainably managed and economically viable. Value-added practices are essential for increasing potential for small farm profitability."
The workshops will give participants insights into a range of subjects such as profitable crops and varieties, price setting for different markets and developing processed products. Participants will leave the workshop with an expanded understanding of adding value to all products and practices, while reducing risks and maximizing profits. The presentations emphasize ways to focus efforts at minimal cost for maximum effect, approaches that control risk, and resources for business planning.
"Adding value is an essential component of small farm sustainability," says Ken Love, culinary educator and one of the workshop presenters. "There are many different ways to add value in growing, processing, and marketing products. This workshop is about finding those ways of adding value to your operation that are best suited for you and that are ultimately profitable."
The workshop will be led by Craig Elevitch, Ken Love, and specialist presenters at each workshop location. Elevitch is an agroforestry educator whose most recent book Specialty Crops for Pacific Islands (2011), provides insights into sustainable cultivation and processing techniques for local and export markets with an emphasis on production methods, postharvest processing, and marketing. Love, widely known as a passionate advocate for the innovative small farm, is co-owner of Love Family Farms in Kona, Hawai'i, which produces a range of value-added products including jams, jellies, dried fruits, and coffee.
For more information and to register, visit www.valueadded.info or call 808-756-9437. The first 30 registrants for each workshop location will receive a free preview copy of the new publication (in press): Adding Value to Locally Grown Crops in Hawai'i: A Guide for Small Farm Enterprise Innovation. The workshop is produced with funds from the State of Hawai'i Department of Agriculture.
Workshop Schedule
Hilo, Hawai'i, Wed., March 20, Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center (PBARC).
Holualoa, Kona, Hawai'i, Thurs., March 21, Kona Imin Center.
Kalaheo, Kaua'i, Wed., March 27, National Tropical Botanical Garden.
Pearl City, O'ahu, Thurs., March 28, O'ahu Urban Garden Center (University of Hawai'i).
Kahului, Maui, Fri., March 29, Cary & Eddie's Hideaway Restaurant.
Photograph and captions
Photo credit for all photos: Craig Elevitch

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Keonopoko Elementary Receives $296,200 Race to the Top Funds

Public Works Administrator Duane Kashiwai has announced that Keonepoko Elementary School has been notified of their award of Miscellaneous Repair and Maintenance for Race to the Top, Zones of School Innovation funds and that work on the projects will begin shortly. The contract for the projects has been awarded to Site Engineering in the amount of $296,200.

Senator Russell Ruderman

Sen. Russell Ruderman said, “Congratulations to Principal Kathleen Romero and Keonopoko Elementary School. Funding for these implementation grants was made available as part of a total of $75 million in support from the state’s successful Race to the Top proposal. The projects supported by this funding will greatly extend school building modernizations and provide expanded and improved educational opportunities. This award will not only fortify our efforts in improving the comfort, safety, and learning environment for all keiki at Keonepoko Elementary School, it will also assist in creating jobs across the state.”

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Effort to Make Healthier,

First Lady Michelle Obama Announces New Effort to Make Healthier, MyPlate Recipes Easy to Find and Share

America’s Largest Media Companies Are Compiling and Promoting Thousands of Recipes that Align with USDA’s Guidance for Healthier Eating

WASHINGTON, February 26, 2013 –Today, five of America’s largest media companies, as well as Pinterest, announced a new collaboration in support of Let’s Move! to make it easier for their millions of online visitors to put nutritious meals on the table every day.  Condé Nast, Hearst Magazines, Meredith, Food Network and Time, Inc. in collaboration with the Partnership for a Healthier America and USDA’s MyPlate have identified thousands of nutritious recipes that meet the guidance that supports USDA’s MyPlate, and are labeling, compiling and promoting these recipes on their most popular cooking websites, which collectively garnered 150 million views in January alone. More than 3,000 recipes have been identified across 18 websites, and today nearly 1,000 of these recipes have been collected on a new Pinterest page associated with the effort, providing a one-stop-shop where parents, beginner home cooks and even the most experienced chefs can find and share healthier recipes.

“As a mom, I know how challenging it can be to think of new meal ideas that your kids will like and that will be good for them,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “This partnership takes the guess work out of finding healthier recipes and gives parents the information and the tools they need to make healthy choices for their families every day.”

Below is a list of publications participating in this collaborative effort:

• Allrecipes.com
• Better Homes & Gardens
• CookingLight.com
• CountryLiving.com
• Delish.com
• Diabeticliving.com
• EatingWell.com
• Epicurious.com
• Everyday with Rachael Ray
• FamilyCircle.com
• FoodNetwork.com
• GoodHousekeeping.com
• MyRecipes.com
• Parents.com
• RealSimple.com
• Redbook.com
• Recipe.com
• Woman’sDay.com

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Sustainable Farmers NetWork: Applications for FY 2014 Farm to School Grants

Sustainable Farmers NetWork: Applications for FY 2014 Farm to School Grants: USDA Announces Request for Applications for FY 2014 Farm to School Grants National Program Continues to Increase Local Foods in Schools an...

Applications for FY 2014 Farm to School Grants

USDA Announces Request for Applications for FY 2014 Farm to School Grants National Program Continues to Increase Local Foods in Schools and Provides New Economic Opportunities for Producers of All Kinds

WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 6, 2013 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced the release of a request for applications (RFA) for the latest round of USDA's Farm to School grants. These grants help eligible schools improve the health and wellbeing of their students and connect with local agricultural producers. "USDA's Farm to School grants connect schools with their local farmers, ranchers and food businesses, providing new economic opportunities to food producers and bringing healthy, local offerings into school cafeterias," said Merrigan. "USDA continues to make improvements to the nutrition of food offered in schools, and investing in farm to school programs is yet another important opportunity to encourage our nation's kids to make lifelong healthy eating choices." This year, three different kinds of grants will be available. Planning grants are intended for schools just getting started on farm to school activities, while implementation grants are available for schools seeking to augment or expand existing efforts. Additionally, eligible non-profit entities, Indian tribal organizations, state and local agencies, and agriculture producers or groups of producers may apply for support service grants in order to conduct trainings, create complementary curriculum, or further develop supply chains, among other activities. Proposals are due at midnight EST, April 24, 2013. To assist eligible entities in preparing proposals, USDA will host a series of webinars related to the application process: March 5, 2013, 1:00 EST – Planning Grants March 6, 2013, 1:00 EST – Implementation Grants March 7, 2013, 1:00 EST – Support Service Grants The Farm to School Grant Program is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which authorized and funded USDA to assist eligible entities, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. The Act provides $5 million annually to support grants, technical assistance, and the federal administrative costs related to USDA's Farm to School Program. In this funding cycle, USDA anticipates awarding up to $5 million in grants. Healthier school meals are a key component of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which was championed by the First Lady as part of her Let's Move! campaign and signed into law by President Obama. The new meal requirements are raising standards for the first time in more than fifteen years and improving the health and nutrition of nearly 32 million kids that participate in school meal programs every school day. Farm to School is one component of USDA's Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) initiative, launched in 2009 to coordinate the Department's work on local and regional food systems and create new opportunities for farmers, ranchers, consumers and rural communities. An interactive view of USDA programs that support local and regional foods, including farm to school and farm to institution, is available in the Know Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass. The KYF Compass consists of an interactive map of USDA-supported local and regional food projects and an accompanying guide to programs and results. In October 2012, the map was expanded and now includes projects from nine other federal agencies. # USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Knowledge is Power!

USDA accepting applications for farm to school grants

With proposals due April 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking applications for a new round of Farm to School grants.
“USDA’s Farm to School grants connect schools with their local farmers, ranchers and food businesses, providing new economic opportunities to food producers and bringing healthy, local offerings into school cafeterias,” Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said in a news release.
The Farm to School Grant Program, funded at $5 million annually, is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The legislation funded the agency to assist, through grants and technical assistance, in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in schools, according to the release. Planning, implementation and support services grants are available with the program, according to the release.
Planning grants are intended for schools just getting started on farm to school activities, while implementation grants are available for schools looking to expand existing efforts, according to the release.
Meanwhile, nonprofit entities, state and local agencies and agriculture producers or groups of producers may apply for support service grants in order to conduct trainings, create complementary curriculum, or further develop supply chains, among other activities, according to the USDA.
The USDA has a series of Web seminars to help prepare applications.
The dates are:

• March 5, 1 p.m. Eastern, March 5 — Planning Grants
• March 6, 1 p.m. Eastern, March 6 — Implementation Grants
• March 7, 1 p.m. Eastern March 7 — Support Service Grants

The USDA’s Farm to School program is a part of the agency’s Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, launched in 2009, according to the release.
For questions about the grants program, contact USDA at farmtoschool@fns.usda.gov, according to the release.

 

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USDA Agricultural Projections to 2022,

USDA Agricultural Projections to 2022, released in February 2013, provide longrun projections for the farm sector for the next 10 years. These annual projections cover agricultural commodities, agricultural trade, and aggregate indicators of the sector, such as farm income and food prices.
Important assumptions for the projections include the following:

• Global economic growth reflects steady gains.
• Increases in world population continue to slow. Growth in most developing countries remains above that in the rest of the world.
• Population gains in developing countries--along with higher incomes, increased urbanization, and expansion of the middle class--are particularly important for growth in global food demand.
• Continued global expansion of biofuels further adds to world demand for agricultural products.

Key results in the projections include the following:

• Prices for major crops decrease in the early years of the projections as global production responds to recent high prices.
• Total U.S. red meat and poultry production is projected to fall in 2013 in response to lower producer returns and drought in the Southern Plains of the United States over the past two years. Meat production then increases in response to improved returns and improved forage supplies.
• World economic growth and demand for biofuels combine to support longer run increases in consumption, trade, and prices for agricultural products.
• Following the near-term declines, prices for corn, wheat, oilseeds, and many other crops remain historically high.
• After declines from record levels projected in 2013, the values of U.S. agricultural exports and farm cash receipts rise through the rest of the decade. Production expenses also rise beyond 2015, but net farm income remains historically high.
• Retail food price increases average less than the overall rate of inflation in 2014-22, largely reflecting production increases in the livestock sector that limit meat price increases.

Micro Loans FSA Farm Service Agency

January 2013

 Microloans

Overview

 

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) developed the Microloan (ML) program to better serve the unique financial operating needs of beginning, niche and the smallest of family farm operations by modifying its Operating Loan (OL) application, eligibility and security requirements. The program will offer more flexible access to credit and will serve as an attractive loan alternative for smaller farming operations like specialty crop producers and operators of community supported agriculture (CSA). These smaller farms, including non-traditional farm operations, often face limited financing options.

Use of Microloans

 

Microloans can be used for all approved operating expenses as authorized by the FSA Operating Loan Program, including but not limited to:

• Annual
• Initial start-up expenses;
• expenses such as seed, fertilizer, utilities, land rents;

• Marketing and distribution expenses;

• Family living expenses;

• Purchase of livestock, equipment, and other materials essential to farm operations;

• Minor farm improvements such as wells and coolers.

• Hoop houses to extend the growing season;

• Essential tools;

• Irrigation;

• Delivery vehicles.

 

Simplified Application Process

 

The application process for microloans will be simpler, requiring less paperwork to fill out, to coincide with the smaller loan amount that will be associated with microloans. Requirements for managerial experience and loan security have been modified to accommodate smaller farm operations, beginning farmers and those with no farm management experience.

 

FSA understands that there will be applicants for the ML program who want to farm but do not have traditional farm experience or have not been raised on a farm or within a rural community with agriculture-affiliated organizations. ML program applicants will need to have some farm experience; however, FSA will consider an applicant's small business experience as well as any experience with a self-guided apprenticeship as a means to meet the farm management requirement. This will assist applicants who have limited farm skills by providing them with an opportunity to gain farm management experience while working with a mentor during the first production and marketing cycle.

 

Security Requirements

 

For annual operating purposes, microloans must be secured by a first lien on a farm property or agricultural products having a security value of at least 100 percent of the microloan amount, and up to 150 percent, when available.

 

Microloans made for purposes other than annual operating expenses must be secured by a first lien on a farm property or agricultural products purchased with loan funds and having a security value of at least 100 percent of the microloan amount.

 

Rates and Terms

 

Eligible applicants may obtain a microloan for up to $35,000. The repayment term may vary and will not exceed seven years. Annual operating loans are repaid within 12 months or when the agricultural commodities produced are sold. Interest rates are based on the regular OL rates that are in effect at the time of the microloan approval or microloan closing, whichever is less.

 

More Information and Eligibility Criteria

Additional information on the FSA microloan program may be obtained at local FSA offices or through the FSA website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov.

NFU Continues to Push Congress for New Farm Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 5, 2013 Contact: Melisa Augusto, 202-314-3191 maugusto@nfudc.org Dan McEvily, 202-314-3104 dmcevily@nfudc.org WASHINGTON (Feb. 5, 2013) – In an effort to ensure that passage of a farm bill does not get pushed back once again as a result of the continued  focus on budget, sequestration and debt crisis on Capitol Hill, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson and NFU staff have begun meeting with members of the 113th Congress on the Senate and House of Representatives Agriculture Committees to focus on the vital importance of the completion of a comprehensive, five-year farm bill as soon as possible. A partial extension of the 2008 Farm Bill, which was passed as part of H.R. 8, the Tax Relief Extension Act in January, is set to expire on Sept. 30, 2013. “At this early juncture of the 113th Congress, we want to get a head start on highlighting the need and urgency for a farm bill. It would be truly shameful to be placed in a situation similar to last year, when work on a farm bill was stopped dead in its tracks,” said Johnson. “We will continue to press Congress long and hard until a bill is finally passed.” Johnson and staff have begun meeting with new members of the Senate and House Agricultural Committees, including Sen. Thad Cochran, R – Miss., who was recently announced as the new ranking member on the Senate Agriculture Committee. “Our meeting with Senator Cochran was helpful and we applaud his dedication to the Senate Agriculture Committee and to the passage of a farm bill that will work for all areas of the country,” said Johnson. “We look forward to continuing to meet with other members of both Committees until the farm bill is on the president’s desk.” On Feb. 12, the NFU executive board will meet in Washington, D.C., to meet with various members of Congress to underline the importance of working on the passage of a five-year farm bill.

Farm to School programs come in many shapes and sizes unique to the communities that build them. After exploring the resources and existing programs on the left, contact your state Farm to School lead for additional information and assistance specific to Hawaii:
Dexter Kishida
School Food Service Supervisor, Department of Education
Kokua Hawai'i Foundation
808-387-5347
dexter_kishida@notes.k12.hi.us

The Hawaii Farm to School & School Garden Hui: Our mission is to advance the statewide school garden and farm to school movement in order to inspire and empower Hawai'i's people to take an active and conscious role in restoring our relationship to food, farming, and the environment; improving student health; and raising academic achievement.

The Hawai'i Farm to School and School Garden Hui works with schools, educators, students, policy makers, and their community partners through the following organizations: Kaua'i School Garden Network; O'ahu Farm to School Network; Moloka'i School Garden Network; Maui School Garden Network, Hawai'i Island School Garden Network and the Hawai'i Department of Health Healthy Hawai'i Initiative.

www.hawaiischoolgardenhui.org

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