The Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts will host  a Local Working Group meeting Aug. 21 to allow agricultural community leaders, farmers and forest landowners to provide input to help shape and improve area conservation. 

Local conservation districts convene Local Working Group meetings, which are open to the public, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. These meetings provide the community with an opportunity to review current natural resource conditions and dominant land uses, identify and prioritize resource concerns and explore conservation opportunities and goals for the local community.

Representatives of Maui SWCDs and NRCS will provide information and answer questions about available conservation programs, farm loans, and disaster assistance programs. Together, we provide financial and technical assistance to help farmers, ranchers and private landowners deliver environmental benefits and to invest in, improve and expand agricultural operations.  

Agenda:

 A. Introductions and Purpose

Facilitator: Jason Hew, District Conservationist, Kahului Service Center, USDA NRCS Pacific Islands Area

• Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service introduction

• Meeting Purpose

• Natural Resources and Resource Concerns

B. Review Past Data

• Recent Farm Bill Data

• Targeted Conservation Delivery

Break

C. Identify Resource Concerns/Issues

• Group Activity: Affinity Mapping

D. Discuss and Prioritize Resource Concerns/Issues

• Group Discussion: Next Steps Based on Results

E. Summary and Parked Items

• Meeting Summary/Report

• Parking Lot Items

• Suggestions for Next Year’s Meeting

No registration is required. For more information, contact a Maui SWCDs representative at (808) 214-1742 or mauiswcds@gmail.com.

More Information

To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center.  Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today. 

Attendees with disabilities requiring special accommodations or alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact Karl Mikasa, NRCS PIA 508 compliance officer, at karl.mikasa@usda.gov for assistance.

For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat.  NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.

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