CAMPAIGN 2010

The Oahu Farm Bureau held a Gubernatorial Candidates forum on August 19th at the new HARC facility in Kunia. The top 3 Gubernatorial Candidates were invited to address Hawaii's Agricultural future. Democratic candidates Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie both attended while Republican candidate Duke Aiona was unable to attend.

Each candidate was also asked to submit a written response to a questionnaire provided by the Oahu Farm Bureau. Click on the candidates name below to see their responses.

DUKE AIONA
MUFI HANNEMANN
NEIL ABERCROMBIE

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VOTE BY MAIL

Voting has also become more convenient here in Hawaii. All registered voters have the option of voting in advance by mail, rather than having to stand in line at your polling place on the day of the election.

Attached are both the Permanent Absentee Application (to receive absentee ballots for the 2010 Elections and future elections) and the Wiki Wiki Absentee Application (to receive absentee ballots for only the 2010 Elections) for your convenience. Simply complete one of these application forms and mail it to the City/County Clerk in the County in which you reside (mailing addresses for each County are listed on each application). In order to be able to vote by mail in the 2010 Primary Election, your application must be received by your City/County Clerk no later than 4:30 pm on September 11, 2010. You will then be mailed an official ballot upon which you may cast your vote in the 2010 Primary Election. After voting, you will be able to submit your completed ballot by mail. Your completed ballot must be received by your City/County Clerk no later than 6:00 pm on September 18th, which is the day of the 2010 Primary Election.

WIKI WIKI ABSENTEE 2010 APPLICATION
PERMANENT ABSENTEE APPLICATION

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USDA Announces Implementation of Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2010 -- American farmers and ranchers outside the 48 contiguous United States that experience high transportation costs will soon see relief through funding authorized through the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill).

"The Obama Administration believes farm programs should provide the stability and predictability agricultural producers need," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "American producers outside the contiguous States often have to take extraordinary measures to transport needed items to their farms and ranches, and then experience substantial costs when they transport their farm output to markets. This program will provide relief to eligible producers who are at a competitive disadvantage."

Vilsack said recent rising fuel costs have made this competitive disadvantage worse. The payments announced today through the Farm Service Agency (FSA) are intended to offset a portion of the costs of transporting agricultural inputs and products over long distances.

The Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program for Geographically Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (RTCP) assists farmers and ranchers in Alaska, Hawaii, and areas including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau who paid to transport either an agricultural commodity or an input used to produce an agricultural commodity.

The Agricultural, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010 (2010 Agricultural Appropriations Bill) provided $2.6 million for this Farm Bill program in fiscal year 2010.

Sign-up for RTCP will begin on Aug. 2, 2010, and end on Sept. 10, 2010.
Applicants must file their RTCP application for benefits at with their local FSA county office no later than Sept. 10, 2010, and applicants also will have until Nov. 1, 2010, to provide supporting documentation of actual costs of transporting agricultural inputs and commodities in fiscal year 2010 to the FSA county office.

For more information on the new RTCP program, farmers and ranchers in the eligible areas can visit their local FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov/pricesupport.

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ALOHA AIR CARGO DISCOUNT PROGRAM

Click Here to Sign up

Aloha Air Cargo, in collaboration with the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, is please to bring you a special air freight discount program exclusively for HFBF members. This discount will provide HFBF members UP TO 35% OFF of Aloha Air Cargo freighter service when shipping you locally grown or ‘Made in Hawaii’ packaged products. In addition, Aloha Air cargo is extending a 20% discount OFF General Freight shipments and non-perishable products.

The program rates will be effective from November 9th, 2009 through December 31, 2010.

All members will need to sign up for access to the special Members Section of the HFBF website to get information on Aloha Air Cargo’s and other company deals. See below for details on how to take advantage of these exclusive discounted rates:

Click Here to Sign up

You will need to provide the following required information in order to sign up:

Name (first and last)

Valid email address (which you will receive confirmation email with login instructions to the HFBF Members’ site)

HFBF Member Number

Check the box if you have an existing Aloha Air Cargo Account number (to be used for shipments/bookings) ? If you DO, please input the AAC Account number in the space provided.

If you do NOT have an account, Aloha Air Cargo will contact you directly for instructions on setting up either a cash or credit based account.

Click on the “Sign Up” button once all information is provided.

Once your request is reviewed and approved, you will receive a confirmation email with login instructions.

If you have any questions or have problems signing up, please contact: signup@hfbf.org.

Click Here to Sign up

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