Together We Farm 2022

Education grants, and technical assistance for farmers working on 1 acre or more. Supporting safe, sustainable, ag.

Through Together We Farm, West Oahu Soil and Water Conservation District, OACA, and partners provide farmers, ranchers, and landowners access to training that can improve farming practices, increase yield, and increase sustainable land practices. In addition, Together We Farm offers mini-grants to participants. More than $60,000 in farmer/rancher direct grants have been awarded.

Year three of Together We Farm secured funding to offer a self-paced, online training through our web-based platform.

2022 TWF Participants, APPLY HERE for Grants!

Grant applications will open June 6th, 2022 with a deadline of June 17th, 2022.

Courses are now closed.

Course content for the general republic will reopen June 17thth and is available through August of 2022.

TO PARTICIPATE:

1. REGISTER and complete courses: OahuACA.tovuti.io

Participants can complete one or all of the courses. We recommend participating in the series for greatest knowledge gain, access to experts, and potential impacts on your farm/ranch. Course are open to all Hawaiʻi residents.

2. DOWNLOAD CERTIFICATES of course completion at the MY LEARNING section of tovuti.

- These can be used to request awards (soil tests, fertilizer/pesticide credit) and apply for grants (up to $600 total).

3. REQUEST AWARDS:

Soil Health and Nutrient Management: soil test with Pete Bunn included ( not available to Big Island residents due to ROD restriction). *Please email your certificate of course completion to access the soil test by May 29th, 2022 if you are applying for soil health grants.*
Pesticide Safety: $50 in credits - 2 CEUs. Please upload your certificate of course completion to grant applications, due June 17th, 2022.
Work Protection Standards.

4. APPLY FOR GRANTS:

A link to the grant application can be found HERE and on tovuti on June 6th, 2022. Applications are due June 17th.

Grant Eligibility Information
- Awards are open to active State of Hawaiʻi farmers/ranchers operating on 1+ acre.
- Grants are open to new students (those that completed courses in 2021 are not eligible).
-Grants are open to active Oahu farmers/ranchers operating on 1+ acre.
- Grantees must confirm no active or pending DPP violations.
- Grantees must be open to a farm visit by program staff.
- Course content is the same from 2021. 2021 TWF participants are not eligible for 2022 grants.

Grant Requirements

- Participants must apply to receive grant funding. The deadline is 06/17/2022. Grant funds must be used to implement lessons covered in TWF. All grant funds must be spent by 29/07/2022 with receipts and a grant report submitted online as directed. There will be no extensions offered.

- All awards must be redeemed by 29/07/2022. There will be no extensions.

-You can apply for grants under any of the 3 TWF course areas for amounts up to the limit listed. However, your total overall grant application cannot exceed $600.

- Submission of soil test is required to unlock the Soil Health Grant.

- You will need to complete a BUDGET to apply for grants. Some ideas for projects that grant funding can be applied to are listed below:

Soil and Nutrient Health workshop attendees could apply for funds to: Invest in soil amendments (after soil testing), conservation plan development, cover crop seed purchases, and more.
Worker Protection Standard workshop attendees could apply for funds to: Invest in supplies and training for employees to ensure all parties are safe on property (e.g. eyewash stations, signage, masks), Produce Safety Training*, FSMA workshops*, etc.
Pesticide Safety workshop attendees could apply for funds to: Invest in tools and equipment that will support safe and proper pesticide application (e.g. appropriate calibration, mixing, etc), RUP training courses*, etc.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
For technical support, contact Kelly Lucero: oahuacaops@gmail.com

Questions about grants and courses contact: Amanda Shaw at WestOahuSWCD@gmail.com or 808-429-5310

The program, developed in 2017 and launched in 2018 by West Oahu SWCD, is committed to providing consistent access to the training, experts, and resources that help farmers, ranchers, and landowners thrive. Mahalo to our partners at NRCS, UH CTAHR extension, OʻaHu RC&D and more for their dedication and support as well as to past funders: Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture, Hartung Brothers Inc., Corteva, Bayer Inc., DR Horton, Pioneer Hybrid International, Ulupono, and others.

让我们一起节约地球资源

Together We Conserve

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Together We Grow

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Together We Innovate

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Together We Farm