Seeds Of Wellbeing - SOW

Ep 60. NRCS: Resources for Hawaii Agriculture

• Jim Crum / J.B. Martin, Jolene Lau, Keith Kropf, Yukie Ohashi • Season 3 • Episode 9

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Spend enough time around Hawaii farmers and ranchers and you’ll soon hear the name of the Federal agency Natural Resources Conservation Service (or NRCS). You may hear the word "conservation' and not necessarily think that they help agriculture producers, but if you have spoken with NRCS, or to folks that have worked with them, you will wonder why you haven’t reached out to them sooner! To better understand NRCS and what they can do to help, we speak with the Director for all of the Pacific Islands Area, J.B. Martin, and NRCS Outreach Coordinator, Jolene Lau, as well as two Hawaii agriculture producers that have been working with NRCS. 

Brought to you by University of Hawaii College of Tropical Ag. and Human Resilience (CTAHR), and the Seeds of Well-being (SOW) Project. This podcast is supported by the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

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Jim:

The views, information or opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the individuals involved, and do not necessarily represent those of the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, our funders or any of the organizations affiliated with this project. Welcome to a Seeds of Wellbeing"Experts in the Field" podcast featuring Hawaii agriculture producers and affiliates working in their field of expertise to support agriculture in Hawaii, in the United States and in some cases around the world. These podcasts are made possible by a grant from the University of Hawaii, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, also known as CTAHR, and the Seeds of Wellbeing or SOW project, and is supported by a grant from the US Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

J.B. Martin:

I think it was 1994 when we became the Natural Resources Conservation Service due to some of the ever changing roles of what we get engaged involved with as an agency, and so we've been known as the Natural Resources Conservation Service Since 1994

Jolene Lau:

We are the federal agency providing conservation technical assistance. We also administer the financial aid through the Farm Bill. We have offices in every county for Hawaii. I am the Outreach Coordinator. We have an office of a workforce of maybe 80 or so employees that serve the Pacific Islands Area. I'm physically in Honolulu at the main office.

Keith Kropf:

I reached out to NRCS right away, knowing they were a resource, and I've been a farmer back in Missouri, so I already was set up with an account with them, or whatever. Anyhow, they came out and looked over everything and gave me some advice on first I was looking at water control, because being in a heavy rainfall area and there was lots of erosion here from cattle and pigs. So that was our first first step, but we ended up talking about what options we had, and one of them was that we did want to put in some high tunnels to grow stuff in because of the high rainfall.

Yukie Ohashi:

So when we were ready, after the perimeter fence went up, we brought some cows in, and that was probably the beginning of our journey with NRCS. So we've actually...

Jim:

Sorry to interrupt. Did NRCS help fund the perimeter fence?

Yukie Ohashi:

No, okay, at that time, my understanding was that you needed to be put your perimeter fence in and have it installed with your animals already there.

Jim:

If you spend enough time around Hawaii farmers and ranchers, you'll soon hear the name of the federal agency Natural Resources Conservation Service, or NRCS. You may hear the word "conservation" and not necessarily think that they help ag producers, but if you've spoken with them, or folks that have worked with them, you will wonder why you haven't reached out to them sooner. To better understand NRCS and what they can do to help we speak with the director for all the Pacific Islands, J.B. Martin and NRCS Outreach Coordinator Jolene Lau, as well as two Hawaii agriculture producers that have been working with NRCS recently. How would you describe the core mission of NRCS?

J.B. Martin:

The core mission of NRCS is to protect our natural resources related to soil, water, plants in our air quality across the nation and soil conservation is our key. We want to improve our whole ecosystem from an environment standpoint, to make it sustainable for years to come.

Jim:

If you could maybe share some examples for hope for Hawaii, ag producers as the types of programs that are available to them or that make sense within the NRCS umbrella,

J.B. Martin:

Our primary program that we utilize in the state of Hawaii is our Environmental Quality Incentives Program better known as EQIP that's our that's our main go to. Last few years within with the funds that we had through our former inflation Reduction Act funds. And so EQIP, it addresses a lot of best management practices that we utilize here in the state. From you know, piggeries, hoop houses, fencing, wildlife management, irrigation, the whole nine yards. And however, the most lucrative thing about the program itself is we provide anywhere from 75% to 90% cost share payment for those individuals, and we also have an opportunity to provide advanced payment to help those in need to get the ball rolling because of the dynamics of getting goods and materials on the island. And so we want to continue that trek

Jolene Lau:

Under EQIP, we have Conservation Stewardship Program, so that's a funding opportunity that helps our ag producers take their conservation efforts to the next level. So it might be enhancement conservation practices, something that is in addition to their currently used EQIP practices, special to Hawaii, we have the Agricultural Management Assistance program. So AMA is available in only certain states. Not every state has this funding opportunity, but this one helps our ag producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing and natural resource conservation practices. So again, that was AMA.

Jim:

So are there certain requirements to be eligible for that funding?

Jolene Lau:

The best person that will help our customers navigate the application process and which program funding is typically the field office,

Jim:

As is often the case, the answer is, "it depends," I suppose, right. I think, I think that might apply to to like, I watched some of the videos that are on your website, and I noticed there's, there's a note on most of the videos that says, this applies to this farmer in this area, but may not apply to your situation. So I think that's, that's maybe the case, but, but I think what I'm hearing is that it's, it's important to reach out to your local field office. Is that correct?

Jolene Lau:

Yes, Each island has a field office, and Hawaii Island has three offices. So Hilo, Waimea and Kona.

Jim:

Give me a sense Keith, or let folks know kind of what inspired you to connect with NRCS and and what your project is.

Keith Kropf:

All right. So we decided when we bought the property, six, seven years ago, that we wanted to grow food. And anyhow, so we did get we submitted and got approved for a high, one high tunnel, and we were working on water storage also, which is now our focus. Right now, we are in a drought, and everything here is suffering so

Jim:

And NRCS offered to fund both projects?

Keith Kropf:

They did. We were going to put in a high tunnel and then water catchment off the high tunnel. I originally wanted to talk to them about putting in ponds, and they kind of said, well, we we like to fund catchment tanks rather than ponds, and so we've got to go back for more discussions on that. But everybody's been really helpful at NRCS. And, you know, I know they have their procedures and stuff, and that's what we're, we're, you know, in different funding cycles. So hopefully, one of these next cycles, we can get in something for ponds.

Yukie Ohashi:

So we've been on this property since 2017 and began fencing. We had animals, cows in here to help clear and then we did, took the chain saws and cut down on the big brush. Once we got the animals in, we we wanted to create paddocks, but we didn't really know where to start. So we've actually received two grants. The initial grant was NRCS grant was to create four paddocks so we could rotate the animals, and that was in 2021 2021 so that grant funded the the cross fencing to create four paddocks, and also provided funds for the little water tank that you see up there, the black one that was funded by NRCS. It's 2500 gallons. And along with that, we were required to build that catchment shed. And the grant also funded the transmission line and four troughs within the within each of the paddocks. In addition to that, we had to take grazing or conduct grazing records for one year. So our animals were in. They prescribed the number of animals we could have, and then we worked with their planners and put together a plan where we would supplement the forages within the paddocks. So we planted grasses that were more nutritious than the Hilo than the dominant Hilo grass. So after four years, or three years, we completed that project, and we are in the current cycle with our new grant to provide support for our crops. And that grant is actually that grant actually is funding the water catchment tank, the big one, the big one, it's, it's actually a 10,000 gallon tank, which is an upgrade from what they did prescribe initially, which was 5000 gallons. So let me get backtrack a little bit. So the components of the the second grant, which we are in currently, will support our market garden, and it includes this high tunnel greenhouse, which is actually 20, 24 feet by 48 feet. It also includes the water system, which will include the water tank, a transmission line, and then drip irrigation within the high tunnel, high tunnel greenhouse.

J.B. Martin:

You know, we have our challenges. We have our battles in terms of not only logistics, but red tape that's been a thorn in our side with a lot of our programs, because it's not as simplified as you usually like to see, but we work through our unique geographical makeup here in the islands, and so I know it's imperative that we can't be waiting such a long amount of time to make things happen. I relay that message on a consistent basis, so we got to do a better job of that, and hopefully we can streamline some programs to help us improve that.

Jolene Lau:

If anyone is interested in making improvements, I encourage them to seek out their nearest office. It's really easy. Farmers dot gov farmers.gov they enter the county, city and county that they live in, and then the search engine will provide the nearest address, phone number, email address, even for the NRCS, contact nearest them, that employee will then have a conversation. Get a feel of you know, how many acres is the property? What are some of the resource concerns they're seeing? And will listen to what their conservation goals are. Together, we come up with a conservation plan. So if you know the resource concern is, say, invasive species attacking the crops. The NRCS field office comes up with the suggested ways to address that.

Jim:

Tell us a little bit about the process.

Keith Kropf:

Sure, yeah, you know, I went into the well, first, first off, they came out, and there was a, I think five people came out to look at different things, because I, you know, said, I want to talk about everything. What's, what's our possibilities here? What are we going to do with this? This is former sugar cane land, and it's, it was in sugar cane for over 100 years, and then cattle, and there was a lot of erosion. There were some five foot deep erosion ditches from the cattle walking the fences and things that we wanted to get repaired right away, so we didn't lose more topsoil and kill more of our coral offshore here. So they came out. It was really very simple. We afterwards, went in the office and filled out some paperwork, which to say I was already in the NRCS database as a farmer or whatever. So. I kind of, I was, I was established, but, but that very simple, filling out paperwork and, and, you know, they were, they were right there, there to help, so.

Yukie Ohashi:

When we initially purchased the property, we were self funding the development of this, this property, and it was actually pretty much grass, tall, grasses, 10 feet high. And then also we had a lot of albizias and other exotic species. So our plan was to clear. And we did all that clearing with with animals and with hand tools. So then

Jim:

and your own money

Yukie Ohashi:

and our own money. And so we, we were aware that the US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture had funds to help farmers, ranchers. And so I started to look into that, and called the USDA, and was directed to NRCS. And so we called them out, actually, and we had planners come out here, and we were at the perimeter. And, you know, it wasn't completely cleared yet, and we had animals in here and said yes, they they responded very favorably, saying that they could certainly help with some cross fencing and pasture management. Nice.

Jim:

What is, what does the process look like internally? For you folks, you get all the applications in and you evaluate them based on a certain number of criteria, and decide which ones you make, which folks you may work with, and what you want or give us. Give me a sense of how that works.

J.B. Martin:

You actually, you described it almost to the left to the t. But the only difference is, we go through a ranking process, and those of those, those applications that meet that threshold within that ranking process, those, those are the ones that will be funded, the ones that fall below that will be deferred now, due to the case that we're referencing deferred, that deferment can be within that year or the following application year due to if those who got approved do not move forward. Then we move the next folks below that threshold up in certain cases.

Jim:

Okay, so threshold that can be kind of a waiting list, it sounds like. And what criteria do you look at that might cause something to be deferred or not deferred that you maybe a little, a little tip for me, if I'm writing my application,

J.B. Martin:

We center our applications, and you know, a lot of our conservation planning around resource concerns. And so those resource concern based on, you know, the elements of water quality, soil quality and corrosion, wildlife, a different the whole different game. Most of the programs are centered around that. So it's depending on how many of those that individuals are interested in addressing in terms of the impact of the particular practices that they want to utilize in addressing those resource concerns. Historically, you know, plus or minus a lot of people you know, ever since I became aware of this agency, some folks will come in and want to do just one practice. Sometimes that doesn't get you over the top of the mountain, you know, because what are you actually addressing, you know, and to meet the whole scope. And so we try to encourage folks not to twist their arm or, you know, say, "Well, if you don't do this, you know, we're funded," but we just try to encourage them to have the best opportunity for that. We try to guide them in the right direction. It's all voluntary. So if they don't get funded, you know, people don't jump at the bit. You know why I didn't get funded, and we have, sometimes we have to thoroughly explain, and some people get it, some people don't, but we try to do the best job we can, to try to relay that message.

Jim:

Yeah, and as I understand it, you have some quite skilled people that come out to the property, and we'll, we'll do a fairly thorough assessment and make recommendations. So yeah, it sounds like, it sounds like the person writing the application has a good sense of what is recommended. And so...

J.B. Martin:

They do, they do. And we're, you know, I give kudos to our staff. We're very young staff and but, you know, I tell them all the time that, based on my career, I put them up against any staff in the nation. You know, our goal is, we just want to continue to enhance and improve our training opportunities, to get them to the level where we have that expertise that is needed, not only once again, not only needed throughout the state of Hawaii, but PIA as a whole.

Jolene Lau:

And there's quite. Write a number of videos, if anyone is interested in watching, you know, a short clip, maybe a minute and a half, about, gosh, there must be over 200 different conservation practices. Maui, our office there, was filmed, so they are featured on YouTube. It's part of the conservation at work series. So the three practices available for your viewing pleasure straight from our office on Maui. One is forest farming, one is herbaceous weed barriers, and the other is vegetative barrier. So that one to help address erosion. But there's so many different practices available. They can watch the short YouTube videos online,

Jim:

Yeah, and that's those are some of the videos I watched on the Pacific page. You know, for you folks in particular, that those were highlighted and and email is an easy way to reach out for the folks based on what they find when they are steered towards a certain office.

Jolene Lau:

Absolutely. And for folks that you know prefer to visit in person and see face to face. The office address is also available when they do the search on farmers.gov.

Jim:

Again, I've looked at the annual report for last year, it looked like almost $30 million spent for to assist over 5300 farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. It looked like about, you know, 14 million of that was on the Big Island. So, and then was what? 3.67 on Maui, 2.4 on Oahu, 1.2 on Kauai, and 660,000 on Molokai. So, by by Island, does the process vary by Island, or it really is just regional, right? And it's depends on the request that's made, or is it, are there different regulations or stipulations, island by island, or no? Pretty much up to the local folks to decide.

Jolene Lau:

So Each island has a field office, and this month was an opportunity for our field to conduct local work group meetings. So they invited and heard from a lot of their landowners, the ag producers in the county. That direct feedback, all of that engagement and healthy dialog about priority natural resource concerns went into a report, and that does impact our ranking for applications. So yes, we collect applications all year round for Environmental Quality Incentives Program. They're scored based on the resource concern that the application is trying to address and the input that we received from the local work group. It does affect, you know, how applications are ranked. So if you have not had an opportunity to talk with your local district conservationist, we always welcome that input.

Keith Kropf:

Basically, I build it, I buy the kit, I build it. It has to be a kit, because they want something that's although it's not engineered, and I am an engineer, I have to buy a pre made kit from one of the manufacturers. There's not very many either. And we buy the kit, put it up. They come inspect it. And then I think we have inspections for five years to make sure we're using it

Jim:

inspections every five years, or every year for five years?

Keith Kropf:

Well, they it's up sort of, I think, as as they see fit,

Jim:

discretion, yeah. Okay. And then when do you so you pay everything up front. You do the work up front, they inspect it, and then you get paid.

Keith Kropf:

Yes, correct?

Jim:

And it's a percentage of the total?

Keith Kropf:

They have a set amount per square foot of high tunnel. So based on that, based on that, the, well, I've got friends that have put up some, and they said, well, it's about 50% of the cost, you know, if you include the labor of installing, you know, you've got to do some setting post in concrete and all the erection so. So which I would do most everything myself? So, you know,

Jim:

With friends, I hope

Keith Kropf:

Yes, and neighbors

Jim:

and neighbors, absolutely, absolutely. So we get it done here. Yeah, and the the water, the catchment as well. They will fund in a similar way?

Keith Kropf:

Yeah. So we didn't. We had applied for funding for catchment, and they go, they have a, I guess, a pool of applicants, and we apparently didn't score high enough to get in this latest round of funding. But we're reapplying so that we're back in the pool. And, you know, they'll probably fund, fund something in the future, hopefully.

Yukie Ohashi:

We've been in touch with them since 2020 actually, 2020 and then 2021 is when we started the pasture project.

Jim:

So pretty much, check in every year with them, it sounds like.

Yukie Ohashi:

Actually, multiple times a year. So the staff there that we've worked with are actually really incredible resources. And so we've had, we've had planners who've come out and helped us with, you know, improving the forage in our pasture so that the animals have better nutrition. We've planted grasses that include barren, goto, marandu, california grass, and so we've we've been working with them. Each at at the end of each practice. For example, we did the fencing first, the cross fencing first. And they came out to, well, first of all, they have very specific plans that you need to follow. They prescribe a certain type of wire fencing posts, etc. So you've got to follow their prescriptions. And then once that is completed, then they come out and actually inspect and then they certify your your that that particular practice so...

Jim:

And that's the case for this greenhouse, as well as the water tank,

Yukie Ohashi:

Precisely. So we have to follow the plans that they they Well, first of all, we're we're sitting we sit down with them to to go over what our goals are. And then, for example, this greenhouse is designed to for tomatoes and peppers. That's that will be our primary crop in here. And so we're working with them specifically to to design the beds, the bed spacing, so that the irrigation lines can then be, be work into what we what our goals are.

Jim:

So it sounds like you've gotten some inspiration and some good information from NRCS as part of the process, but also some very strict requirements for how you have to do it. Does that feel limiting at all to add those restrictions?

Yukie Ohashi:

No. In fact, being new at this our agricultural endeavor it's been very, very helpful. We were working with the engineer. So there's the resource people, include the planners, the animal experts, the engineer. So currently, in terms of the specific design of this, this area, this within the greenhouse. You're working with the engineer, the the water tank too. She's made the engineer, Chelsea, the engineer, has made some really good suggestions for us. And so we, we don't feel restricted. In fact, we really consider them to be the staff, to be a resource. And and even with the water tank, there are certain specifications that you need to follow. For example, two of the requirements for the steel tank would be to have a black liner instead of a white liner to also paint the pipe. So we have, we have an inspection coming up next week, and they will take a look at at what we have done and and if everything, if we've checked off all the boxes, then they will certify it. So this is a reimbursement program. So So certification means we will be reimbursed the costs.

Jim:

Would you have, did you have an estimate as to what NRCS will pay for as part of that, as a percentage?

Yukie Ohashi:

The NRCS will pay what is the full market price, according to our contract, but the labor to install is our responsibility, so I believe that it's pretty much close to 100% of the material cost. But for example, the water tank, it included the cost of the tank, but not necessarily the gravel to install it and the labor to install it.

Jim:

And did I hear you say earlier that the tank is larger than they they would reimburse for, and so you're, you're paying the extra. Is that how they?

Yukie Ohashi:

Correct. Okay, so in working with NRCS, the the you know, we have a plan to to have crops within this two acre area. So they understand that, that that are our bigger picture, and we're not necessarily wanting to irrigate only the greenhouse, and so we, we requested, you know, not a change so much in our contract with them, but just to upgrade the size of the tank from 5000 for the greenhouse to 10,000 gallons so that we could be secure in watering the entire parcel, the entire market garden. So we paid for the upgrade,

Jim:

and are they pretty easy to work with, like flexible with things like that, and paperwork

Yukie Ohashi:

Extremely actually. What what we found is that it's probably the easy they're probably the easiest group to work with in terms of putting to the together a grant. I think there's an initial meeting with them, and you know your information is, is like I did not fill out the one form. In fact, they did all that paperwork. They provided a a plan of the whole property for us. They did. They did research on our soil type, our elevations, etc.

Jim:

Wow. So it sounds like maybe for early farm beginning farmers, it's maybe even more valuable than established farms.

Yukie Ohashi:

It really is the key to getting an NRCS grant, though, is being ready. I think if we had called them in at the very beginning with really nothing here except what was here, then the value would have been their their their expertise, their their recommendations, their assessment. But we would probably not have been funded at that point, but once we got to a certain level and we had our our operation going with the animals in, then they were able to help us. I think they require that, that you put in your sweat equity and get started and then they come in to help. Same with with this second grant. Right here at this on this little plot we had, it was cover cropped when they came in. We had some sorghum sudan here, and with the intention of turning it, turning it into a garden plot so so that qualified for the greenhouse to be here. The water system, of course, goes along with that, but they recognized very quickly that we needed more than 2500 gallons of water. In fact, you can see the hose there on the fence. It's been watering this this area is like being a fireman. You know, I've had to pull, drag hoses around, spend a lot of time just, just going from bed to bed, watering, watering during when we plant initially, and then during dry areas. So in many cases, in you know, it's often, it's it's daily. So this is going to save us a lot of time. It's going to make our farm operations more efficient, and our production will be higher.

Jim:

Yeah, especially with the drought correct. If that continues. It's been a tough year for NRCS. Early in the year, they lost over 20% of their Pacific Island area staff because of the Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE reductions. There were more delays in the passage of the Farm Bill, which funds their programs, and October 1 to November 12, saw staff furloughed during the government shutdown. Let's see what all this means for NRCS and its funding. There's an article I ran into that was talking to in the spring of this year. I believe there was one department of governmental efficiency, I think, was offering early, early retirement or to a lot of folks in the program that this article states that there were issues for NRCS, specifically in many locations. I wondered, had you seen that that impact the programs and your ability to to do what you want to do in the Pacific Islands?

J.B. Martin:

Yes and no. You know when that all originated going dating back to, don't, don't quote me on the actual date, but it was around February, 10, 12th, or somewhere along those lines, when we first started receiving letters of losing, you know, some of our employees, fork in the road, and then the DRP too. We lost a little over 20% of our staff as a result of that, and we're still reeling from that, to a certain extent. But one thing I would say in my leadership team, staff and I, we've been continuously talking about this. We're very fortunate to be quite frank and honest, because we at least still have employees in every office across the Pacific Islands, unlike some of my counterparts on the mainland, where we have some states that are hovering around 15-16 plus offices that doesn't have anybody in them that once did prior to this taking place, and so we're in the process of trying to continue to evaluate, assess how we're going to continue to move forward, to provide staff support to those offices that were significantly impacted, like our Kealakekua field office on Big Island. That's one of the things, of course, you know the main one of the other main engines of our operations, including Hilo, but all of them are important, and we want to make sure that we continue to support them in any way that we can as it relates to that, but also including our partners, you know, we want to make sure that we continue to develop our rapport with them and keep them on the same, you know, battlefield with us to assist our producers throughout

Jim:

and so now you just are back after, I think, the longest government shutdown ever. And so I think, yeah. So I guess the question is, and again, the question is on the minds and of some of the ag producers I've spoken with is, should they are there concerns about ongoing funding for NRCS, for the Pacific Islands? Should they worry about putting in applications? I mean, I've heard some folks said that they won't put in an application because they're afraid there's going to be no funding. It's been that extreme, for instance. But tell tell us what funding looks like from your perspective, with all these changes that have happened in less than 12 months.

J.B. Martin:

My thoughts on that is, and I'm very candid and frank when I have discussions with people, because I don't try to cut corners, or I want to be as straightforward as I can. And right now for us and PIA, just based on the success that we've had the last two and a half years, not necessarily because of me, but because of the inflation reduction Reduction Act funding, we have been very successful now that being said, to get down to the question our funding, did it decrease fiscal year 26? Yes, it did, but that's as a result of eliminating IRA, as we call it, inflation Reduction Act, right and so. But I think we're right on par with where we've been, well, where we have been historically. And I do think that moving forward into FY 26 we'll be okay. And so those folks who are concerned about where is the funding, I would encourage them, and along with you and others, as it relates to our partners, to keep those folks encouraged to apply for our programs. We have an open year round application. Our deadline is January 15. We'll figure out when headquarters provides our marching orders as far as when we begin to rank, but based on the passage of the bill to fund the government to January 30, we, as a USDA as a whole hasn't been funded for all of FY 26 so that's a plus. And we're very fortunate. And I think, like I've tried to explain, in a roundabout way to our some of our employees who haven't had the opportunity to be engaged and involved at this level, when you've been around for a long time, and you see the different dynamics of how things fluctuate through the years. Agriculture is important to United States of America. I don't care how you cut it, how you slice it, right. And so when that begins to have an impact on certain folks who produce for us, and see the trickle down effect of the impact that it has that's going to get folks attention. So we're very fortunate to have that, and so we'll see you know how things play out, but right now, we're funded through September 30, 2026 Okay, so we're in pretty good shape. Now, with not having the amount of funding that we've had in the past, and I don't know, based on this change of administration, even with our new leadership, you know, in the past, we've had an opportunity to do funds assessment to garner to see if we needed additional funds in a given time frame as it relates to a specific program that we have more requests for. So we're hoping that, you know, based on what we've been granted thus far, if we run out of that, we might have an opportunity to request for more additional funds. So we'll see how that goes around, mid, late spring, early mid summer. So we might have an opportunity to continue to do some of the things we've done the last couple of years.

Jim:

Do you call it a grant, or you don't call it a grant? You call it matching

J.B. Martin:

No, we don't call it a grant. We related to financial incentive for cost share program dollars. We try to stay away from Grant. The reason for that is using grants you don't have no financial obligation with ours. You do.

Jim:

Yes. Yes, important distinction. So you have a pool of funds that are allocated for each year, September to September, correct? And so is it a set amount of funds that, if you don't spend it, it goes back into a general fund, or is it available to roll over to the next year?

J.B. Martin:

No, the only funds, yes and no, it goes back to the general funds related to our cost share program. The only program that we have an opportunity to roll over at times would be our emergency watershed protection funds.

Jim:

So you have a lot of programs and funding available to the farm bill. The Farm Bill, did that just renew recently? Is this the latest farm bill? And how long does that farm bill continue?

Jolene Lau:

They're working. They're drafting the next one as we speak. So the funding that we're using now is a close out of the last farm bill that we were authorized.

Jim:

Do you want to people just to continue to apply, regardless of the timing or how are you feeling about that as an agency?

Jolene Lau:

I am pleased to say nationally, farmers are first and there will be funding. So we are encouraging customers, potential customers, to come in to the local office again, Environmental Quality Incentives Program is accepting applications year round. So even if I don't know the total amount of funds available for EQIP, I know that the funds will be

Jim:

A lot of folks we talked to as part of the SOW project are there hesitant in applying for funds in general, because they're worried about the burden of paperwork, right? But yeah, it sounds like you folks are there to help.

Jolene Lau:

There is a lot of paperwork, but if you think about the opportunity for a direct deposit it does make sense. You know, they have to have their checks and balances for eligibility. You know, meeting criterias. Once the conservation practice is installed, they have to make sure it meets standards and specs, I mean, but you know, the initial paperwork pays off in the end.

Jim:

Excellent well, and I've heard the folks are great to work with, and are all sorts of helpful advice in general. So even if you don't get funding, is it possible to reach out to NRCS to get suggestions or consulting?

Jolene Lau:

Absolutely, the conservation technical assistance is always an opportunity. So reaching out to our specialists in the field. You know, they they may have workload priority shifting because of the staffing. Some offices are having to do more with less people, so we appreciate the patience as well.

J.B. Martin:

My goal when I got here and we got this IRA funding. You know, my goal was to get our staff up to around 115 people. Before all this happened, we topped out at 108 we're sitting right now as a result of retirement fork in the road, the ERP too, we're sitting at 78 and that's not covering everything that we need to cover. Because, you know, currently we have seventy eight people

Jim:

Yeah, well, hopefully we can see that increase to the levels that you think are appropriate for what you're trying to take care of.

J.B. Martin:

I'm hopein' so. I'm hopein' so. In due time, in due time, yeah, we'll get there.

Jim:

This past year must have been especially tough, so...

J.B. Martin:

You know, it's all about cycles Mr. Crum, it's all about cycles. We've been through this before, just a little bit this time around this is a little bit more extended, a little bit more severity, but that's the way the wheel turns in government, right and so, and there's brighter days to come, and a lot of people always state that "JB, you always have a tendency to be so optimistic," I have no other choice but to be you know, I can't falter, and if I falter, the staff falters. So, you know, we I'm trying to keep everybody upbeat, motivated, as I like to say, and do the good work that we do. We do good work.

Jim:

We thank J.B. and Jolene from NRCS and egg producers Keith and Yukie for sharing details with us about NRCS. While 2025 has been a year full of cutbacks and uncertainty and the new farm bill is further delayed, NRCS is optimistic about future funding, so reach out to your nearest office soon and see what they can do to help. Anything you want to share with the Hawaii ag community, about NRCS is kind of a final thought.

Yukie Ohashi:

I truly believe that for for any serious farmer rancher, they are a huge, huge resource. They are very willing from from our experience, we found that they're so willing to work with you and and provide what you need to to be part of the food producing network here. I think the staff there have been wonderful to work with they are they have knowledge. They've got really great recommendations. It's been for us, it's been a real joy to work with them. So for anyone who is ready, I would highly recommend contacting the office, even if you're not ready, but you have a plan, you can always call them in as resource personnel.

J.B. Martin:

You know, my staff understands this. If there's something that our producers would like to, you know, voice their opinions or concerns and what some a lot of them have. But for those who are uncertain. I always feel free to request my presence. You know, I don't have a problem meeting the folks. I don't have a problem getting chastised. I can handle that. But my goal is, is all about the people. I'm one of my mottos. I have several, but my main motto is all about serving the people of PIA, but that's in the territories, the Commonwealth, Hawaii, even our two international offices, it's all about serving the people. Now are we going to be perfectionist at that? No, because nobody is. However, we need to understand the situations that folks are dealing with, because I've seen many different iterations over the seven places that I've been. Because it's done differently all across the country, but we want to make sure within PIA that we do the best job we can to serve our producers. So what that means people are on the fence about applying? Always feel free to apply if you don't get approved, go back to the office to see how you can increase your opportunity to get your application through. How we can enhance that, whatever the case may be. That's what we're about. That's what we want to be. It's not going to be gravy. Nothing is gravy. But we want to make sure that we understand, and that's why I challenge my staff. We do a lot of traveling. You know, I think I'm probably one of the first directors that allow staff to travel as much as we do, because one of the main components of mine is we're not going to sit here in Honolulu and try to manage the agricultural operations from Honolulu, because a lot of the ag is other places, including Oahu, but we just want to make sure we're connected, and it's key. And I learned that a long time ago, especially working in the Midwest, you know, with farmers in the Midwest, but you have to stay in tune, and we want to do a better job of that, but our coverage area is a little bit different than most, and so we just have to matriculate through the weeds and make that happen.

Jim:

Okay, great. Well, thanks so much for your time. Appreciate what you're doing

J.B. Martin:

Appreciate you. We're trying our best.

Jolene Lau:

Big mahalo. Big Mahalo. It takes such heart and dedication to farm and to produce food and fiber for our community. Without our farmers and ranchers, we would be struggling. So thank you big thank you to all of your listeners for what they're doing.

Jim:

ish yoI wu luck. This is a beautiful spot that you have. I actually know you well enough to have seen this when it was all just Guinea grass and and Waiawī so yeah, I know I've seen your progress to the work over the years you've been here. So well done. Thank you and wish you luck. Take care.

Thao:

The intention of these podcast series is to create a

Keith Kropf:

Aloha. safe space for respectful and inclusive dialog with people from across a broad and diverse spectrum involved in growing and making accessible the food we share together. A diversity of voices, perspectives and experiences can serve to deepen mutual understanding, to spark creative problem solving and provide insight into the complexities of our agriculture system. If you our listeners have experiences with Hawaii agriculture ecosystem, from indigenous methods, permaculture, small holder farmers to large including

J.B. Martin:

four o'clock in the morning and go through that multinational agricultural industrial companies and everywhere in between and you would like to share your story, please contact us. We welcome your voices and perspectives. iteration. But, yeah, we're die hard sports fans. But the bright side about that, I can enjoy my football, and I still got a majority of the day left to do whatever I need to do. So that's the one saving grace for it. So it's been good.