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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgriculture HandoutAgriculture Agriculture Resource Preservation Objective 2: Protect and restore viable agricultural lands and resources. Protect and enhance viewscapes and open spaces that exemplify HdroRua's rural character. "A community focused on sustainable agriculture." WHAT HAMAKUA SAID "Lands from mauka to makai being used or farming by people here - by farmers." Existing Policies & Plans ir Challenges CDP Value -Added • Development is targeted to existing zoned Current land use policy maps Land Use Policies/Actions urban areas to discourage rural sprawl on ag designate agricultural areas for town . Sets a firm urban growth boundary to preserve lands, extension (Approximately 76% of agricultural lands (Policy 4, 5); • Development on agricultural land is limited residential building permits issued since 2008 are located on Prioritizes land use on agricultural lands through to agriculture, farm dwellings, related Agriculturally -Zoned Land); permitted use guidance, minimum lot size, and farm economic infrastructure and cottage subdivision policies (Policy 24, 25, 27); industries, renewable energy, open area and • Unsustainable agricultural practices recreational uses (State Agricultural Land negatively impact resources; • Provides guidance for Special Permits, Use permits, & Use District policies /regulations HRS 205-2); • During heavy rains, runoff from Plan Approval on ag lands (Policy 26, 28, 30), • State LUC Special Permits and County Use agricultural areas impacts • Prioritizes reporting, inspection, and enforcement permits regulate nonconforming uses on Ag streams/coast; protocols to ensure farm dwellings serve farm -related Lands;purposes (Policy 31); • County currently lacks adequate • Important Agricultural Lands Protections capacity to manage/promote (HRS 205-41-52), agriculture, Draft Hamakua CDP hamakua@hawaiicounty.gov www.hamakuacdp.info 1 • Coastal Zone Management HRS 205A-2; • Soil and Water Conservation Districts provide support, • Concurrency rules limit rezone and subdivision of ag lands by requiring infrastructure improvements; • Agricultural Project District provision, • Farm subdivisions create smaller farms without residential development, • State Important Agricultural Land (IAL) program, • Farm Dwelling and Additional Farm Dwelling provisions allow for farmers/employees to live and work on land, • County lacks TDR (transfer of development rights) legislation. • County currently not a partner in Land Preservation watershed planning efforts, Prioritizes Identifying important ag lands to the State • Limited land tenure for producers, (Policy 29), • County does not consistently enforce • Adopts land banking or Transfer of Development additional farm dwelling agreements, Rights legislation to preserve lands from development • Real property tax deductions don't (Policy 16, Kokua Action 7), always promote agriculture, • Educates landowners on land preservation programs • Variances from subdivision (Community Action 5), requirements are possible. Resource Preservation • Guides sustainable agriculture practices to protect watershed (Policy 43, 44), • Supports Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) and DLNR programs (SWCD) conservation efforts (Kokua Action 17, 19, Community Action 10), • Supports invasive species management or eradication (Community Action 9, 44), • See also: strategies for watershed planning. Draft Hamakua CDP hamakua@hawaiicounty.gov www.hamakuacdp.info 2 Agriculture Focused Economy WHAT HAMAKUA SAID Objective 11: Enhance and promote local and sustainable agriculture, farming, ranching, renewable "Hamakua as an agriculture community - energy, and related economic support systems. a nationally and Internationally Objective 13: Promote appropriate rural tourism that " welcomes guests for an alternative visitor experience. recognized brand. Promote Hawais host culture and Hamakua s heritage, including heritage roads and plantation towns, and festivals that celebrate our rich multi- cultural music, art, and agriculture.4 "Provide financial incentives for agriculture to encourage farming." Existing Policies & Plans Challenges�wr_ CDP Value-AddedV • County Ag Capacity improvements prioritized • Idle Land: Over 60% of the land zoned Financial Incentives for Agriculture: in County of Hawaii Ag Development Plan, for agriculture in Hamakua is not being utilized for agricultural • Support revising tax policies to ensure tax incentives •County knowledge of existing resources and for agricultural uses (Policy 32, Policy 55); purposes; prioritization of agricultural industry focus of: • Tax policies for ag land do not • Support financial incentive programs to prioritize taro o Increased Food Security and Food Self- (Policy 55 Kokua Action 29)• Y Sufficiency Strategy (2012); necessarily incentivize highest/best ( use for ag, Support Agriculture Industry by: 0 2012 Hawaii County Food Self • Limited Farm Employment/Labor . Increase County Agriculture capacity (Policy 111), Sufficiency Baseline (2012); force; Support agriculture water infrastructure • Mauna Kea Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) & the Hamakua SWCD • Impacts from Invasive Species/Crop improvements (Policy 116, Kokua Action 69), provide ag resource support; Disease, . Develop/support agriculture park development • Hamakua County Farm Bureau is a nonprofit • County currently lacks adequate (Policy 116, Kokua Action 68), organization designed to help guide the capacity to manage/promote • Promote Ag -based education (Kokua Actions 67, 70, future of farming, agriculture industry, Community Action 47), Draft Hamakua CDP hamakua@hawaiicounty.gov www.hamakuacdp.info 3 • Hawai`i Island School Garden Network, • USDA Rural Development Grants; • USDA Cooperative State Research Education and Extension service (CSREES) Grant— Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (WSARE). • Land tenure issues (high land costs, difficulty in securing long-term leases), • High Input costs (Labor, fuel/electricity), • Access to capital is challenging, • Business capacity is low; • Limited Agricultural Cooperation between farmers hampers networks and collective marketing strategies. Expand Agricultural Market Opportunities: • Support farmers markets on agricultural lands/County Park lands (Policy 112, 113, 114, Kokua Action 67, 70, Community Action 45), • Explore the development of an aquaculture industry (Kokua Action 71), • Support farm -based tourism, farm -to -school programs, agricultural events and festivals, etc., (Policy 120, Kokua Action 66, Community Action 44), • Support branding for Hamakua products & "buy local" campaigns (Community Action 43, 44). Draft Hamakua CDP hamakua@hawaiicounty.gov www.hamakuacdp.info 4