WASHINGTON, Nov. 3, 2016 – Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2016 FSA County Committee elections on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by Dec. 5, 2016, to ensure that their vote is counted.

Honolulu, HAWAI, July 25, 2016 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Hawaii and Pacific Basin Farm Service Agency (FSA) Executive Director, Diane Ley, today reminded farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers that they have until Aug. 1, 2016, to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local FSA county committees.

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the nomination period for farmers and ranchers to serve on local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees is open for the 2016 election process.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2016 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Hawaii County in Hawaii as a primary natural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by a recent drought.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2016 — Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin offering farm ownership microloans, creating a new financing avenue for farmers to buy and improve property. These microloans will be especially helpful to beginning or underserved farmers, U.S. veterans looking for a career in farming, and those who have small and mid-sized farming operations.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded farmers and ranchers that the next general enrollment period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) begins today, Dec. 1, 2015, and ends on Feb. 26, 2016. December 2015 also marks the 30th anniversary of CRP, a federally funded program that assists agricultural producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.

Honolulu, Hawaii, October 9, 2015 - USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) is partnering with the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) to host workshops to assist producers in better understanding the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), and how the program can assist in financial recovery from natural disasters. Workshop highlights will include:

Honolulu, Hawaii, October 8, 2015 - Producers who filed a timely application with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) for the 2015 Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (RTCP) have until November 3, 2015 to bring their supporting receipts and documentation to the FSA County Office.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 22, 2015 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced that $2.5 million in grants is now available for projects to educate new and underserved farmers about more than 20 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency programs that can provide financial, disaster or technical assistance to the agricultural community.

Honolulu, Hawaii, August 21, 2015 — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director Diane Ley reminds agricultural producers that FSA provides a receipt to customers who request or receive assistance or information on FSA programs.

WASHINGTON, June 8, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced that the nomination period for local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committees begins on Monday, June 15, 2015.

WASHINGTON, June 1, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that incentives will resume this summer for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy. The support comes through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. BCAP provides financial assistance to establish and maintain new crops of energy biomass, or who harvest and deliver forest or agricultural residues to a qualifying energy facility.

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds farmers that the 2014 Farm Bill requires producers to file a Highly Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification form (AD-1026) with their local USDA service center by June 1, 2015, in order to become or remain eligible for crop insurance premium support.

March 16, 2015 - Agricultural producers negatively impacted by Tropical Storm Bavi may be eligible for disaster assistance through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) if they are signed up for the Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) and file a Notice of Loss (CCC-576) within 72 hours for hand-harvested crops under the new provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill.

(Honolulu, Hawaii) March 3, 2015 - Financial assistance is available for farmers and ranchers who have debris to remove or conservation practices to repair as a result of the high winds that occurred in Hawaii and Honolulu Counties on January 2-3, 2015. According to Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Diane Ley, a total of $1.4 million in Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) funding has been requested to assist producers recover from damages caused by the high winds. Eligible producers will receive cost-share assistance of up to 75 percent of the cost of the approved practice, as determined by the FSA County Committee.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2015 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds livestock producers that the Jan. 30, 2015, deadline to request assistance for losses suffered from Oct. 1, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2014, is fast approaching.