Healthy Agroecosystems Program
Funding and in-field technical assistance to help farmers and ranchers adopt conservation practices that improve soil health, water quality, and long-term farm productivity.
Healthy Agroecosystems Services
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Funding & Technical Assistance Programs |
Cost-share funding, mini-grants, and in-field specialists to assist in adopting conservation practices |
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FSA / NRCS Registration Assistance |
One to one assistance in completing USDA-FSA and USDA-NRCS registration |
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Conservation Planning |
We’ll help you complete Conservation Plans for your property |
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Conservation Monitoring |
Conservation monitoring services for pre-existing conservation plans |
The Healthy Agroecosystems Program helps Hawaiʻi’s farmers and ranchers care for their land while keeping their operations viable. Through multi-year conservation projects, site-specific planning, hands-on technical assistance, and direct financial support, the program addresses both natural resource priorities and the practical realities of running a farm — because long-term environmental stewardship and long-term farm viability are inseparable goals.
Work is shaped by ongoing engagement with agricultural communities and focused on the challenges that matter most: protecting water quality, improving soil health, reducing erosion, advancing climate-smart practices, and stewarding sensitive ecosystems including loʻi kalo (working wetlands). Our cost-share programs make conservation more accessible by reducing the financial burden on producers, and projects are intentionally designed to support on-farm infrastructure alongside natural resource improvements — recognizing that a well-functioning farm operation and a healthy landscape reinforce each other. Multilingual outreach programs ensure that producers across the state’s diverse farming community can access and benefit from program services.
Healthy Agroecosystems Impact in 2025
participated in Healthy Agroecosystem Programs
of agricultural land received technical assistance
Conservation Plans Developed
Current Projects and Availability
If you are interested in participating in the Healthy Agroecosystems program or applying for a specific project, click here to complete our intake form and select Health Agroecosystems as the first service you would like to explore.
Below is a list of our active projects. Other opportunities may also be available. To receive a list of active projects before completing our intake form, please contact the Ag Stew Farmer Help Desk at farmsupport@agstewardshiphawaii.org or 808-336-1039
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Project Name |
Opportunity |
Basic Eligibility (other restrictions apply) |
Still Accepting Applications |
|---|---|---|---|
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Ag Water Stewardship: an Irrigation Reservoir Cost-Share Program to Conserve Groundwater |
Funding assistance to cover the cost of irrigation reservoir liner material |
Farms/Ranches with shovel-ready irrigation reservoir construction projects or existing irrigation reservoirs that do not have liners. |
No |
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Hawaii-Grown Partnership for Agriculture |
Funding assistance and technical support to implement conservation practices on agricultural lands. |
Farms and Ranches on O’ahu |
Yes |
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Agricultural Stewardship and Watershed Restoration of Kaiaka Bay |
Funding assistance and technical support to implement conservation practices that improve water quality and reduce erosion. |
Farms and Ranches along waterways in the Kaiaka Bay Watershed on O’ahu |
No |
|
Oʻahu Community Agroforestry Mini-Grant Program |
Mini-grant program that supports urban and community forestry across Oʻahu through partnerships with farms engaged in biocultural restoration and indigenous agricultural activities. |
Farms and Ranches on O’ahu with publicly accessible programming (community workdays, educational programs, etc) |
Yes |
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Perimeter Fencing for Feral Swine |
Funding assistance and technical support to help cover the cost of hog fencing. |
Farms and Ranches on O’ahu |
Yes |
What Are Cost-Share Programs?
Our Healthy Agroecosystem Program offers cost-share funding to support farmers and ranchers in implementing eligible conservation and production practices. Cost-share projects require participant buy-in, either through a financial contribution or an in-kind contribution (such as labor, equipment, or materials), depending on the project. We do our best to cover as much of the practice implementation costs as possible for each participant. Payments are provided as either advances or reimbursements, depending on the specific project.
Examples of Conservation Practices we assist producers in implementing:
|| Perimeter Fencing || Drip Irrigation Systems || Lined Irrigation Ponds || Cover Crops || Critical Area Planting ||
|| Windbreaks& Shelter Belt Establishment || Vegetative Barriers and Eco Strips || Agroforestry ||
|| Storm Runoff Control || Access Roads || Invasive Species Removal || Native Plant and Tree Establishment ||
|| Biocultural Restoration || lo‘i kalo / wetland restoration ||
Conservation Plans & Monitoring Services
Our Conservation Planning services help farmers and ranchers assess their land and operations to develop a customized plan for improving soil health, water quality, and overall ecosystem function. We work with producers to identify priority conservation practices and create a roadmap for implementation that aligns with their goals and available funding opportunities. Our Conservation Monitoring services support farmers and ranchers in tracking the outcomes of implemented conservation practices over time.
There is generally a fee for these services but funding for conservation plans is occasionally available.
