NRCS Pacific Islands Area Announces Virtual State Technical Committee Meeting

NRCS Pacific Islands Area Announces Virtual State Technical Committee Meeting

HONOLULU, Feb. 10, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service in the Pacific Islands Area is hosting a virtual State Technical Committee meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 12:30 p.m. HST.

The STC meeting is an opportunity for interested stakeholders and organizations to provide NRCS with information, analysis and recommendations on natural resources conservation priorities. Additionally, participants help develop criteria for conservation activities, program enrollment and funding, recommended practices, and program payment percentages.

"Your input is valuable to us, and if you are not available to attend, we ask that you assign a representative to participate," said NRCS PIA Director J.B. Martin. "The PIA STC has been and continues to be a vital part of Farm Bill implementation. NRCS depends on your local knowledge and expertise to implement Farm Bill programs and ensure the process remains locally-led."

Among other things, STC participants help NRCS:

• Identify emerging natural resource concerns and program needs.
• Recommend conservation practice standards and specifications.
• Recommend state and national program policy based on resource data.
• Review activities of the local working groups to ensure state priorities are being addressed locally.
• Make recommendations to the Director on requests and recommendations from local working groups.
• Assist NRCS with public outreach and information efforts and identify educational and producers' training needs.

Participants can join via Microsoft Teams(meeting ID - 280 302 435 448 52 | passcode - KE3LD28r) or by phone at +1 202-650-0123,,498593042#(conference ID - 498 593 042).

NRCS PIA State Technical Committee Meeting Agenda
(Agenda is subject to change.)

Welcome
Moderator: Kori Hisashima, Assistant Director for Partnerships, NRCS PIA

Opening Remarks (15 minutes)
J.B. Martin, Director, NRCS PIA

Updates from USDA, NRCS serving the Pacific Islands Area (30 minutes)
Nicholas Saumweber, Assistant Director for Programs, NRCS PIA

Overview of Local Work Group Meetings & Discussion (15 minutes)
Kori Hisashima

Overview of PIA Payment Schedules (30 minutes)
James Eller, Assistant Director for Technology, NRCS PIA

Partnership Opportunities (10 minutes)
Kori Hisashima

Open Comment
Other Business & Next Meeting Information

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