MFSN Grower's Report: July 2026

MFSN GROWER'S REPORT

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JULY 2026 | ISSUE 01

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Here is our first official issue of MFSN Grower's Report.

We don't want this to be a traditional newsletter.

There are already enough emails competing for your attention. Our goal is to provide useful information, practical resources, funding opportunities, and local agricultural insights that help Maui County growers stay informed, connected, and resilient.

If we're doing this right, every issue should answer one simple question:

What do Maui County growers need to know right now?

Can you answer a question now - just reply to this email:

What skills do you want or need to learn?

Financial Support & Grants

 $18.5 M on the table

Need help navigating grants or funding opportunities - Free MFSN coaching is available to help. Apply here!

HiGPA is making $18.5 million available

Here is a new grant opportunity that may be relevant to Hawaiʻi farmers, ranchers, forest managers, and the producer networks.

The Hawaiʻi-Grown Partnership for Agriculture (HiGPA) is making $18.5 million available through the USDA Advancing Markets for Producers initiative. The program will provide financial incentives and technical support to help producers implement conservation practices, strengthen farm and forest resilience, and expand market opportunities.

Application:

• First-round application deadline: July 31, 2026

• Recommended FSA eligibility paperwork completion: July 20, 2026

GUIDE TO APPLY

Dept of Agriculture MDOA Grant

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture's MDOA Grant Program is accepting applications to support projects that strengthen Hawaiʻi's agricultural sector and local food systems.

Funding Priorities:

• Agricultural Operations and Infrastructure

• Education

• Agricultural Recovery

• Livestock

• Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi Agriculture

• Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi Feral Animal Control

• Non-food Agriculture  

Application:

• Application deadline: July 22, 2026 

GUIDE TO APPLY

Heads Up

CRB has been Spotted in Waikapū

Five Coconut Rhinoceros Beetles (CRB) have recently been detected in the Waikapū area. While the numbers are small, early detection and community action are critical to preventing the spread of this destructive invasive pest. 

What You Can Do to Help Stop the Spread:

1. Checking palm trees for unusual damage

2. Monitoring compost, mulch, and green waste piles for signs of beetle activity

3. Chipping, composting, and managing green waste properly on-site whenever possible (MFSN can help with that!)

4. Avoiding the movement of untreated green waste between properties

5. Reporting suspected beetles or damage

Tool of the month

Mulching

Whether using wood chips, cardboard, compost, or a combination of materials, mulch remains one of the most cost-effective tools available to Maui farmers.

Benefits include:

• Reduced irrigation needs

• Improved soil health

• Weed suppression

• Lower soil temperatures

• Increased water retention

As summer temperatures increase, a well-mulched field can make a significant difference.

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Every local farm contributes to something bigger.

Maui County growers help strengthen food security, steward agricultural lands, support local families, and build resilience for future generations.

Whether you're stewarding a garden bed or one hundred acres, your work matters.

Mahalo for everything you do.