Free workshop provides options for financial, technical support to West Hawaiʻi farmers

Information on financial and technical assistance, crop insurance, conservation programs and more will be available to West Hawaiʻif farmers, ranchers, foresters and landowners this Friday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting a resource workshop to bring one-on-one, personalized advice and other assistance directly to producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs.

The workshop is free at the Kona Imin Center, 76-5877 Old Government Road, in Hōlualoa from 3 to 5:45 p.m. on Friday.

Representatives with the Soil and Water Conservation District and U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies – Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency and Risk Management Agency – will be available to answer questions and talk story with attendees.

Registration is not required and for questions, contact Natural Resources Conservation Service Outreach Coordinator Jolene Lau at jolene.lau@usda.gov.

Attendees with disabilities requiring special accommodations or alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) can contact Natural Resources Conservation Service compliance officer Karl Mikasa at 808-447-3121 or karl.mikasa@usda.gov for assistance.

To learn more about Natural Resources Conservation Service programs, producers can contact their local U.S.Department of Agriculture Service Center.  Producers can also apply for programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps with a farmers.gov account. Those interested in signing up for an account can do so at any time.