Department of Agriculture

HONOLULU —  Hawaii aquaculture farmers may now apply for federal funds to help offset high feed prices they experienced in 2009. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has allocated $13,289 as Hawaii’s portion of $20 million authorized under the Agricultural and Adjustment Act. This grant program is being administered through the Aquaculture Development Program of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA).

Some of the qualifications for this grant include:

• Feed costs for 2009 exceeded 25 percent of the total input costs for the operation
• Producers must have complied with certain federal wetlands conservation requirements
• Producers must be a recognized vendor in the State Procurement System and be in compliance with the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the State Tax Office
• Producer must not have applied or received assistance from other disaster or feed subsidy programs for the same species of aquaculture for 2009.

Reimbursement amounts are limited to grant funds available. If the amount of eligible applications exceeds the grant amount available, recipients will receive a pro-rata adjusted amount.

Applications and program rules are available
Questions and inquiries regarding the program may be directed to Todd Low, Manager, Aquaculture Development Program, (808) 483-7130.

Completed grant applications must be received by the Aquaculture Development Program,
99-941 Halawa Valley Street, Honolulu, HI 96701-5602 no later than May 2, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.  Applications received after 4:30PM on May 2, 2011 shall not be considered eligible.

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