Emergency grants available to Hawaiʻi farmers, ranchers affected by recent natural disasters
Applicants from farms, orchards, ranches and similar operations with affected lands now can apply for relief grants.
To help farmers and ranchers affected by recent natural disasters in Hawaiʻi, the Governor’s Office and two state agencies have implemented an Emergency Farmer Relief grant program to provide disaster relief following major storms Lala, Lowell and Moke.
The storms hit the islands from mid-August to the first week of September, severely impacting the state from Niʻihau in Kauaʻi County to Nāʻālehu on Hawaiʻi Island.
“Our agriculture industry was not spared,” Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green said in a press release. “Relief for those communities across Hawaiʻi is critical. This new (Emergency Farm Relief) Program will help farmers and ranchers repair infrastructure, replace damaged or destroyed equipment and get back to doing the work of sustaining our state.”
Applicants from farms, orchards, ranches and similar operations with affected lands now can apply for relief grants. Online applications will be accepted until Jan. 29.
“We saw with the Kona low storms earlier this year how vital it was to quickly get much needed relief money into the hands of our farmers and ranchers, who are the lifeblood of Hawaiʻi,” said Sharon Hurd, chair of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, which along with the Department of Accounting and General Services are part of the program.
About 1,300 farmers or ranchers inpacted by the Kona low storms received funding.
“These (new) funds will allow the people who do the hard work of producing food for the people of Hawaiʻi to get back on their feet and into the fields and pastures for that essential work,” Hurd said.
How the program works
Eligible applicants can receive a maximum of $1,500 per year. Funding is limited, and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applicants must submit a W-9, Schedule C or Schedule F from their tax returns as proof of work as a farmer or rancher. In addition, they must provide enough information to create an invoice, allowing the agriculture department to issue a check.
Officials hope to have checks available in early to mid-January at locations across the state. Applicants will be notified of pick-up details.
For more information, email dab.info@hawaii.gov or call 808-973-9560.
