The recent decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has resulted in significant job losses and confusion within Hawaiʻi’s agricultural sector.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has terminated the Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities, a program that had previously allocated $3.1 billion to initiatives promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Rollins characterized the program as a “Biden-era climate slush fund” that favored nonprofits over actual agricultural producers.
As a direct result of this decision, at least 30 contracts with local farmers and ranchers in Hawaiʻi have been canceled, leading to an estimated loss of up to 60 jobs.
The Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities aimed to involve 60,000 farmers in practices designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through climate-smart agricultural approaches.
In its first phase, the program engaged 14,000 farmers and covered about 3.4 million acres, which included over 4,000 acres and more than 30 farmers in Hawaiʻi.
Since its launch in 2022, the initiative had funneled approximately $46 million into various climate-friendly projects in the state, focusing on food forest planting, invasive species management, and soil health improvement.
However, following Rollins’s announcement, many beneficiaries have begun to lay off staff and discard contracts, uncertain about how they will continue their operations or whether they can reapply for the new funding structure.
Hawaiʻi’s agricultural sector has suffered significantly since the onset of federal funding freezes and contract cancellations earlier this year, a trend that began during the Trump administration and has now exceeded $60 million—surpassing the annual budget of the state Department of Agriculture.
In place of the canceled climate partnership, USDA plans to redirect the funds toward an initiative titled the “Advancing Markets for Producers,” which aligns with the previous administration’s policies.
Concerns have been raised that this shift might neglect the initial focus on climate change.
Anny Bruch, a member of Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, emphasized that discussing soil health is crucial.
“This is an investment in our own land and our own farms,” she stated.
While the USDA has invited some projects to reapply for funding under the new program, including a significant project led by Lynker Corporation and the University of Hawaiʻi, others, like the Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative, are feeling the impact of cuts to different national partnerships, which do not qualify for reapplication.
The reapplication window is scheduled to open in June, but partnership members have expressed concern that this delay could exacerbate financial instability for organizations needing immediate support to maintain operations.
Consequently, some organizations have already begun staff reductions and reallocations due to the uncertainty surrounding future funding.
Bruch, who has lost her job as a result of these changes, mentioned that the funding freeze had left them in a state of anticipation.
“We were just waiting for the other shoe to drop,” she said, highlighting the feelings of negligence among those invested in the climate-smart initiatives.
Farmers who had put time and resources into the program have reached out to the union and its partners, expressing their discontent due to the abrupt changes instituted by the current administration.
While the USDA has committed to honoring invoice reimbursements up to April 13, many farmers remain anxious about the future.
Executive director Dana Shapiro of the Hawaiʻi ʻUlu Cooperative explained the disappointment felt by contracted farmers, stating that they had dedicated years to working towards sustainability and growth.
“It definitely feels like people are being punished for something they were not part of,” Shapiro lamented.
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda voiced her concerns about the chilling effect this decision will have on local farmers and ranchers.
She noted that many individuals may reconsider applying for future funding due to the uncertainty surrounding the USDA’s actions.
In a geographic context where job markets are already small, losing even a single technical specialists in vital areas such as climate-smart agriculture can lead to widespread repercussions.
The Hawaiʻi Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities was designed with the specific intent to support and encourage farmers and ranchers to adopt practices that minimize the climate impact of agriculture, particularly focusing on the health of Hawaiʻi’s unique soils.
Comprising 12 organizations, led by the University of Hawai‘i, the partnership included groups like the Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council and The Kohala Center.
Together, they aimed to address flourishing community needs through educational and technical assistance tailored specifically for small farms throughout the islands.
The original vision encompassed much more than mere direct payments to farmers, as expressed by UH researcher Susan Crow.
She emphasized how input from local producers shaped the initiative to meet their specific needs effectively within the parameters set by the USDA.
Fear arises that crucial input from smaller farmers could be lost in the revamped funding strategy, which aims for a minimum of 65% of funding to be allocated directly to farmers.
Tokuda expressed skepticism that this plan would disproportionately benefit larger producers while smaller, underrepresented communities may continue to face challenges in accessing the necessary support.
As more organizations reevaluate their strategies and seek to sustain their missions, Crow acknowledged the necessity of considering the resubmission process carefully.
For now, those involved in the partnership are focused on caring for their people, producers, and staff in the aftermath of the unfavorable announcement from the USDA.
image source from：https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/04/usda-cuts-46m-in-funding-for-hawai%CA%BBi-ranchers-farmers/
