For a list of Resources for Beginning Farmers, click here.

AgriLogic Consulting, LLC: Crop and Livestock Insurance
Between September 30, 2015, and September 29, 2016, AgriLogic will be offering crop insurance education and related risk-management strategies to farmers across Hawai‘i. In partnership with The Kohala Center, AgriLogic will provide crop insurance training through workshops, on-farm appointments, conferences, and meetings on Hawai‘i Island, Maui, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i. The Kohala Center and Kaua‘i Community College Office of Continuing Education will also be offering free QuickBooks classes for farmers on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i interested in keeping strong financial records and participating in crop insurance programs.

State of Hawai‘i Agricultural Loan Division
The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Loan Division administers the Agricultural Loan Program and the Aquaculture Loan Program. The intent of the programs is to help promote agricultural and aquacultural development of the State by providing credit at reasonable rates and terms to qualifying individuals or entities. Through the establishment of a revolving loan fund, credit is made available by supplementing private lender sector loan funds or by providing direct funding.

Good Agricultural Practices: A Self-Audit for Growers and Handlers
A guide for farmers and food producers to perform self-audits to improve and maximize food safety.

State of Hawai‘i Agricultural Services and Marketing Opportunities
An extensive list of extension services, federal programs, state and county programs, educational programs, distributors, and more.

USDA Reimbursement Transportation Cost Program Payments
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA has begun issuing approximately $1.996 million in fiscal year (FY) 2012 payments through a program that assists farmers and producers outside the contiguous United States who paid to transport either an agricultural commodity or an input used to produce an agricultural commodity. The Secretary also announced that the sign-up period for the FY 2013 program begins on July 22.

Managing Cover Crops Profitably
This publication from Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) explores how and why cover crops work, and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation. Along with detailed management information on the most commonly used species—including grasses, grains, brassicas and mustards, and legumes—Managing Cover Crops Profitably offers chapters on the role of cover crops in broader topics such as crop rotations, pests and conservation tillage. It also has appendices on seed suppliers and regional experts.

Energy Audits for Rural Small Businesses and Agricultural Producers
Investment grade agricultural energy audits for Hawai‘i’s rural small businesses and agricultural producers are available for those interested in energy efficient practices.
Through a $100,000 federal grant via the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program, the energy audit initiative will provide approved farms, agricultural producers and other rural small businesses with an investment grade audit that will examine current energy usages, provide detailed project costs and savings calculations, and recommend energy savings conservation measures.

Hawai‘i Island Mediation Program
Hawai‘i Island Mediation Program (HIAMP) is a non-profit organization that provides free mediation services to the agricultural community on farm loans, credit issues, compliance with USDA programs, and many other issues. Mediation is an informal way of using a neutral party to help resolve disputes and solve problems. Email info@emcenter.org for more information.

Pricing Produce and Products for Fair Profit Based on Cost of Production
Farmers’ concerns about being left with an unsold perishable harvest have existed since the first crops were sold thousands of years ago. Too often growers find themselves influenced by rumor, innuendo, and fear when it comes to pricing the crops they grow or the products they produce. Buyers may take advantage of that fear and offer to buy crops at greatly reduced prices, and farmers’ fear may prompt those sales. How can growers become self-sustaining? This paper offers solutions to increase small farm economic sustainability, especially in terms of farmers markets and sales of value-added products.

Hawai‘i County Food Self-Sufficiency Baseline Study 2012
This study presents the results of a new Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping effort that has digitized the agricultural activity currently occurring on Hawai‘i Island. This data provides a 2012 snapshot of where, and what kind of, farming is occurring on Hawai‘i Island and can serve as a baseline to monitor future trends in agriculture land use. This mapping effort also helps emphasize the variability of agricultural activities that occur island wide and the regional differences that underlie existing farm activities. Each region of the island is mapped and described separately in an effort to depict not just where farming occurs but why.

Aquaponics in Hawai‘i Conference
May 25, 2013
Materials and videos of presentations
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/sustainag/workshop/Aquaponics-May2013.html

Hawai‘i Agribusiness Guidebook (PDF, 1.64 MB)
Published by College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa

Mahi‘ai Match-Up Agricultural Business Plan Contest
Mahi‘ai Match-up is a statewide agricultural business plan contest for farmers and entrepreneurs looking to establish an agricultural business in Hawai‘i. Winners will get an agricultural lease from Kamehameha Schools (rent waived up to five years)* and a cash prize from Ke Ali‘i Pauahi Foundation to help make their winning agricultural business plan a reality. Registration deadline is July 1, 2013. More details and registration information available at http://www.pauahi.org/mahiaimatchup/index.html.

Food Hubs: Building Stronger Infrastructure for Small and Mid-Size Producers
By offering a combination of production, aggregation, distribution, and marketing services, food hubs make it possible for producers to gain entry into new and additional markets that would be difficult or impossible to access on their own.

Bringing Local Food to Local Institutions: A Resource Guide for Farm to Institution Programs (PDF, 1.07 MB)
As the local food movement gains momentum, the number of farm to institution programs across the nation continues to grow. This publication offers examples and insight into the farm to institution world. Farmers, food-service managers, and community members can use this publication by the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service to gain knowledge and resources to start or expand farm to institution programs.

The Berkeley Center for Diversified Farming Systems
News and resources from University of California, Berkeley College of Natural Resources

The Role of Food Hubs in Local Food Marketing
A USDA Rural Development Service Report, 2013

USDA Organic Resource Guide 2012
Would you like to go organic? Organic farmers’ guide to USDA resources.

Best Books of 2012 – from the Diversified Farming Systems Community and Beyond

Hawai‘i Plant Disease
Information resources for pests and diseases of plants in Hawai‘i.

O‘ahu Agritourism Guidebook 
An introductory guide from the O‘ahu Resource Conservation and Development Council for those interested in agritourism on O‘ahu. Ideal for farmers, ranchers, floriculturists, and other agricultural producers interested in learning more about agritourism.

O‘ahu Farmers Market Guide
Current listing of active farmers markets on the island of O‘ahu.

Maui Food Technology Center
The Maui Food Technology Center’s mission is to grow Hawai‘i’s food industry, connecting students, food producers, and farmers through the practice of food science.

Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers
Hawai‘i Tropical Fruit Growers (HTFG) is a nonprofit organization, incorporated in 1989, with the primary purpose of promoting the interests of any and all aspects of tropical fruit in the state of Hawai‘i.

HawaiiFruit.net
The pictures and data on these pages are from more than 30 years of work on Hawai‘i Island. There is a wide range of harvest times due to the many elevations and locations where the fruit trees are found. Year to year rainfall also makes a difference in when fruit is available.

Invasion: Little Fire Ants in Hawaii
Invasive species introductions to Hawaii often end in regret and a list of should-haves. This film, produced by the Maui Invasive Species Committee, aims to change the result of the arrival of little fire ants in Hawaii. Featuring videography from award-winning film makers Masako Cordray and Chris Reickert, this half-hour film examines the biology, impacts, and potential solutions to the spread of little fire ants through interviews with scientists, farmers, and community on the Big Island reeling from the impacts of this minuscule, but devastating, ant. Viewers will learn how to identify and report new infestations, helping to protect Hawaii from this small stinging ant.

From Farm to Table: Building local infrastructure to support local food
Published in the November/December 2013 issue of Orion Magazine

New Farmers: Getting Started with the Basics
A gateway to online educational resources and information for new farmers provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Resources for New Farmers from University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program
Links to useful resources including production techniques, agri-entrepreneurship, newsletters, frequently asked questions, and more.

GoFarm Hawai‘i Program
The objective of the GoFarm Hawai‘i Program is to enhance Hawai‘i’s food security and economy by increasing the number of local agricultural producers by offering those with an interest in agriculture a combination of knowledge, experience, and support designed to assist them in becoming viable production growers, and accomplish this in a manner that encourages sustainability.

On-Farm Food Safety Project
Need Help Creating a Food Safety Plan? The On-Farm Food Safety Project (OFFS) is a comprehensive national program that offers fruit and vegetable farmers, food safety professionals and agricultural extension specialists technical assistance to utilize and teach best practices in food safety. This website includes the bulk of these resources including a free online tool, based on a comprehensive risk based framework, which generates customized on-farm food safety plans based on user input. The tool is designed for use by small to mid-scale fruit and vegetable growers and provides a full set of record keeping tools to document their food safety program and to provide training to their employees.

Adding Value to Locally Grown Crops in Hawai‘i: A Guide for Small Farm Enterprise Innovation (PDF, 4.15 MB)
Because of the high cost of labor, land, and materials in Hawai‘i, family farms are only economically sustainable if they can produce high-quality products that are valued above cheap imports. This Guide helps growers add value to all aspects of their farm enterprise and offers resources for further developing their strategies.

Hawai‘i Island Farmer’s Guide to Accessing Local Markets (PDF, 4.6 MB)
Produced as a joint publication by the Hamakua-based Center for Agricultural Success, Hawai‘i Community College, and Permanent Agriculture Resources, this remarkable summary of local Hawai‘i Island markets is full of useful insights and guidance from both seasoned farmers and local distributors. A recommended read for every aspiring farmer in the state of Hawai‘i.

Hawai‘i Farmers Market and Agritourism Venues: Best Food Business and Food Handling Practices for Farmers and Vendors
The growing desire to buy agricultural products closer to home has created unprecedented opportunities for the agricultural entrepreneur who can meet buyer needs and expectations. Two places this happens is at farmers markets and agritourism businesses.  This best practices guide helps the new agricultural entrepreneur get up to speed as fast as possible and to help the established vendor get a business tune-up.

Beginner Farmer-Rancher Development Program Panel
Video recording of the Beginner Farmer-Rancher Development Program Panel that was help on November 21, 2014.

Teaching Organic Farming and Marketing
UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS)

Teaching Direct Marketing and Small Farm Viability
UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS)