How One Kona Farm Made Federal Funding Work for Organic Agriculture
Written by Mary Elizabeth Kidd, OFRF Communications Associate
OFRF is currently working to increase farmer and community awareness of the federal funding opportunities available to organic and transitioning farms. As part of our work with the West region of the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), we’re spotlighting the experience of one farm—Makili Farm in Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi—that received funding and support through the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
Their story offers a transparent look at what it’s really like to work with NRCS: the benefits, the obstacles, and the lessons they’ve learned. We hope other farmers can use their experience to navigate the process of applying for and implementing CSP contracts more easily.
Meet Kathy Vass of Makili Farm
Source: Makili Farm, Credit: John VassLocation: Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi (west coast of Hawaiʻi Island)
Established: 2013
Acres: 5.8
Production: Coffee, macadamia nuts, cacao, citrus, vanilla, vegetables, tropical fruit, and pineapples
Certification: USDA Certified Organic since 2017
Staffing: Two part-time team members, plus seasonal staff (macadamia harvest)
Markets: Wholesale (grocery stores and local distributors)
Context & Challenges
Source: Makili FarmCoffee flowers in bloom.
OFRF team members recently spoke to Kathy Vass, owner and primary farmer at Makili Farm, sitting on almost 6 acres at an elevation of 1,500 feet on the west coast of Hawaiʻi Island.
She shared a realistic and dedicated vision of organic farming on Hawaiʻi Island, where approximately 85% of food is imported, operational costs are high, and pest and environmental pressures are tremendous. Seasonal cyclones and recent earthquakes bring even more obstacles.
Her commitment to provide organic, locally-produced food for her community is palpable and powerful: “We’re all struggling financially. I know very few farms that aren’t. We’re providing enough income to live on. But the ones I know who are succeeding are organic.”
Kathy has been working in the soil for over 55 years, from her previous career as a landscape contractor in Long Island, New York, to her 13 years of farming at Makili Farm.
Kathy notes that in the last 5-10 years, pests and invasive weeds have surged. The avocado lace bug and the coffee berry borer, in addition to nematodes, continue to wreak particular damage to her key crops; coffee leaf rust has also led to crop loss.
>> Read more: Kathy and five other farms participated in a 2021 OFRF research grant exploring Organic Farming Systems Options for Controlling Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) in Kona Coffee.
The impact of these pests and diseases is the primary reason Kathy sought support from programs like the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The knowledge and financial support they provide have been a lifeline for her business.
Why Organic?
Source: Makili FarmVanilla bean orchid.
“I have always, for 55 years, done nothing but organic methods.”
Despite so many challenges, Kathy’s commitment to organic practices remains unshaken. She continues, “organic farming is, whether certified or not, so important for the health of our soil, our water, and our air. It’s just so important to me to have healthy food from healthy soil.”
The higher market value for organic products was also appealing; organic coffee cherries get $1 more per pound than conventional ones.
That said, each year Kathy questions her desire to remain certified. “It feels like a burden,” she shared, “Every year when it’s time for me to start doing the paperwork, I weigh whether I really want to keep doing the certification. I would always continue to be organic, regardless of whether I’m certified or not. I’m not sure that the price difference makes a big difference.”
Accessing Support through NRCS CSP
Source: Makili FarmEQIP-supported hoop house.
Kathy’s daughter-in-law, also a local farmer, suggested Kathy contact Laura Nelson, who leads the Kealakekua Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office.
Kathy first worked with Laura to secure Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) reimbursement for approximately half the cost of a 20-foot-by-72-foot hoophouse, enabling her to increase production.
Laura then encouraged and supported Kathy through the CSP application process. While Kathy was initially apprehensive of another paperwork-laden application process, her existing documentation for organic certification was already comprehensive and helped expedite the CSP application.
Kathy then worked with Laura to develop goals and objectives for a 5-year contract, which reimburses her $5,000 per year to support her conservation efforts.
CSP Goals & Learnings
Together, Kathy and Laura honed in on two goals for the 5-year CSP contract:
- Enhance agroforestry with additional trees and shrubs (primarily fruit-bearing).
- Continue ongoing organic pest control practices on the farm.
Source: Makili FarmAgroforestry in motion.
In her first year, she successfully planted cacao, bananas, breadfruit, and cherimoya, expanding her market offerings.
She’s now in the fourth year of her five-year contract and continuing the focus on pest management. A few recent tasks supported by her CSP contract: planting 600 new coffee trees, mulching them, and planting a nitrogen-fixing ground cover, perennial peanut.
While much of her work remains the same—tenacious, focused, and curious—the financial and community support help her stay the course and represent her primary CSP wins. “Having those connections with other farmers has been good…really, really good.”
After her current contract winds down, Kathy is considering another CSP offering focused on native plants. She heavily cites the expertise and accessibility of her NRCS agent, Laura Nelson, as a success-driving factor in her experience with CSP.
Advice to Farmers
“Persevere,” Kathy shared without hesitation. She urges farmers to explore as many USDA and other avenues of financial support as possible, never shying away from doggedly advocating for what they need with USDA agents and representatives. She also recommends plugging into the local farming community, including other farmers, your local Extension, and farmers’ unions.
“Find out what’s available, ask questions, and hang in there.”
Ready to Apply? Here Are a Few Helpful Resources
If you’re a farmer considering applying for CSP or other NRCS programs, here are some helpful tools to get started:
- Read how Catherine Nguyen of Mora Mora Farm, a newly-certified farmer, uses CSP to bridge the gap between generating income and investing in conservation.
- Download OFRF’s CSP flyer for more information on the federal funding program, including eligibility and application details, available in English and Spanish here.
- Connect with your local NRCS office to start developing a conservation plan: nrcs.usda.gov/contact.
- Know your eligibility. Farmers who are classified as beginning, limited-resource, socially disadvantaged, or veterans may qualify for higher reimbursement rates and advance payments.
