HONOLULU (KHON2) — Access to land, affordable water and aging infrastructure are all consistent challenges farmers in Hawaii struggle with. With an ever-growing list, lawmakers are concerned more farms will shut down in the future.
After 114 years, Peterson’s Upland Farm will soon wind down poultry operations and egg sales. Farmers like Senator Lynn DeCoite, who runs a sweet potato farm, worry it won’t be the last.
“It’s the rising costs of everything that surrounds agriculture,” said Sen. DeCoite. “Those added costs at this time have been detrimental, which is why you see the closing of many other farms to come.”
Sen. DeCoite knows firsthand the challenges island farmers are facing.
“My kids that I would love to see take over, have seen the challenges and struggle within what the state has been going through. And even they are hesitant on whether or not they want to be the fourth generation,” said Sen. DeCoite.
Adding to the list of growing concerns in the farming community include invasive species that devastate ranching crops and livestock like coconut rhinoceros beetles, feral pigs, and coffee leaf rust among others. Additionally, a worker shortage isn’t helping the aging farm population.