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New Faces: Shannon Sand

New Faces: Shannon Sand 31 January 2019

New Faces: Shannon Sand

Shannon Sand (NREM) will be the new assistant Extension agent in Agricultural Finance. Based out of the Komohana Agriculture Research & Extension Center in Hilo, she will have state-wide responsibilities. Shannon has earned master’s degrees in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, and Food and Resource Economics. Please welcome her when she starts work in June!

Unwilted

Unwilted 24 January 2019

Unwilted

Dig in and add some spice to your life! The Pearl City Urban Garden Center is hosting a Cooperative Extension workshop on “Multiplying Organic Bacterial Wilt-Free Ginger.” Pathogen-free planting material is essential when growing ginger, but there’s been limited access to organic seed pieces. Now you can find out how to grow your own!

Go Bananas

Go Bananas 24 January 2019

Go Bananas

Who doesn’t want more bananas? Learn how to propagate healthy, disease-free banana plants using macropropagation techniques at the Banana Macropropagation Workshop Part 2 offered by Cooperative Extension faculty and staff on five islands! The workshop will show participants how to multiply banana corms using materials generated from Part 1 of the Workshop.

A Better Beef

A Better Beef 24 January 2019

A Better Beef

Savannah Katulski, a Kaua‘i junior Extension agent, has been awarded a $750 scholarship by the Roy A. Goff Memorial Endowment Fund to support her participation in the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium and Convention in South Dakota. Savannah will use this opportunity to bring research information, new tools and resources back to Hawai‘i to help improve beef carcass quality and genetics for local production systems.

Get Schooled on Farm-to-School

Get Schooled on Farm-to-School 24 January 2019

Get Schooled on Farm-to-School

Want to know more about the state of ag education throughout the state? There’s no better way to find out than by reading the Final Report on a Coordinated Framework of Support for Preschool through Post-Secondary Agriculture Education in Hawai‘i, submitted to the Legislature by the P–20 Ag Ed Working Group, of which CTAHR is a member.

Bring Awareness

Bring Awareness 11 January 2019

Bring Awareness

Want to spread the good word about ag and hang out with happy fifth-graders? Volunteer for the annual CTAHR Agriculture and Environmental Awareness (AEA) Day! The purpose of AEA Day is to create a greater awareness and understanding of agriculture and the environment among students and teachers and to introduce students to career opportunities in agriculture and environmental studies.

New Year, New Growth

New Year, New Growth 11 January 2019

New Year, New Growth

As part of a collaboration between livestock Extension agent Kyle Caires and King Kekaulike High School’s Agricultural Program in Maui, Phase III of forage research and pasture trials started on January 2 with new plantings of pasture grasses and forage crops. This collaboration has generated valuable data for industry and provided hands-on learning opportunities for high school ag students.

Don’t Be Mildewy

Don’t Be Mildewy 11 January 2019

Don’t Be Mildewy

Extension faculty and staff at the Poamoho Station just presented a Cucurbit Powdery Mildew Management Field Day. Besides giving the participants an overview of the disease and its effects, the field day offered the results of a trial comparing three commercially available products reported to control powdery mildew on cucurbits.

Animal Health and Handling

Animal Health and Handling 11 January 2019

Animal Health and Handling

Kyle Caires (HNFAS) wrapped up a productive year in livestock extension by hosting an animal health and handling workshop on Maui for more than 40 4-H youth and adults in early December at Kaonoulu Ranch. Attendees got hands-on experience administering dewormers and vaccines, as well as trimming hoofs and treating hoof problems in sheep and goats.

Heart Hero

Heart Hero 21 December 2018

Heart Hero

Those at the Kona Research Station got a first-hand lesson in the value of CPR and first aid when ag tech Nick Yamauchi used these skills to save Marc Meisner’s life during a medical emergency in the field. At the annual 2018 Hawai‘i County staff meeting held December 7 in Kona, Nick was awarded a certificate of commendation for his outstanding, life-saving aid.

On Their Turf

On Their Turf 21 December 2018

On Their Turf

Zhiqiang Cheng (PEPS) and Norman Nagata (TPSS, Maui CES) organized the 2018 Maui Turfgrass and Landscape Pest Management Workshop at CTAHR Maui Extension Office, including updates on important turfgrass and golf course pests such as frit fly, take-all patch, mini ring, rover ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, and lobate lac scale.

New Partners Against ROD

New Partners Against ROD 21 December 2018

New Partners Against ROD

Civil Beat recently published an article about the workshops CTAHR and the island Invasive Species Councils have conducted on how eco-tour operators can avoid spreading Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death (ROD) and other pathogens, weeds, and pests. The workshop leaders include Extension forester J.B. Friday and ROD educational specialist Corie Yanger (both NREM).

Nalo Kalikimaka

Nalo Kalikimaka 21 December 2018

Nalo Kalikimaka

Ken Leonhardt, Ilima Ho-Lastimosa, and Ted Radovich (all TPSS) represented CTAHR’s holiday spirit in fine style at the 2018 Waimanalo Christmas Parade, featuring Ken’s 1924 Model T and a “certified-organic” tractor loaded with gifts and cheerful candy-tossers that reminded onlookers of how long CTAHR’s been making life better for the community.

Where the Candidates Are

Where the Candidates Are 14 December 2018

Where the Candidates Are

The seminars for the O‘ahu County Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Extension agent position have been completed, so please evaluate the two candidates, Amjad Ahmad and Mitchell Loo. CVs and some video presentations for candidates for junior/assistant Extension agents in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Finance, and Livestock are available as well.

Documents to download

Ag Ed at a Distance

Ag Ed at a Distance 14 December 2018

Ag Ed at a Distance

The Women in Ag Learning Network will be holding a virtual conference featuring information, tips, and tools that ag educators and service providers can use to deliver more engaging and effective programs for beginning women farmers and ranchers. The conference will be held from January 29 to 31, from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. each day Hawai‘i Time.

Revel in Extension

Revel in Extension 14 December 2018

Revel in Extension

The college’s celebration of the centennial of Hawai‘i 4-H and the 90th anniversary of Extension in the Islands is still going strong! If you missed the luncheon hailing these milestone events or want to relive the memories, check out the CE90 – 4-H100 website, which features a video of the event, a photo gallery, and images of all the posters shared in the educational displays.

All in the Community

All in the Community 14 December 2018

All in the Community

Yvette Rodriguez Stern and Sarah Yuan (both COF) led the project team for the Center’s recently published 2018 Community Profile Series, created in collaboration with the YMCA of Honolulu. The team also included COF members Javzandulam Azuma and Kathleen Gauci. The profile series presents measures of quality of life and well-being for 11 communities on O‘ahu.

At the Helm of ADSC

At the Helm of ADSC 14 December 2018

At the Helm of ADSC

CTAHR’s Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC) is looking for a manager! The ADSC provides analytical and diagnostic services to Hawai‘i’s agricultural community through soil testing, plant tissue analysis, feed and forage analysis, plant disease identification, and insect pest identification. It also runs the popular UH Seed Program.

Interviews in the Edible Crop Industry on Maui

Interviews in the Edible Crop Industry on Maui 7 December 2018

Interviews in the Edible Crop Industry on Maui

All are invited to attend the interview presentations of the candidates for junior/assistant Extension agent for the edible crop industry on Maui, a position that will be based in TPSS. Each candidate will speak on the topic of “Expanding the Edible Crop Extension Program on Maui.” 

Interviews in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture on O‘ahu

Interviews in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture on O‘ahu 7 December 2018

Interviews in Sustainable and Organic Agriculture on O‘ahu

All are invited to attend the interview presentations of the candidates for junior/assistant Extension agent for sustainable and organic agriculture on O‘ahu, a position that will be based in TPSS. Each candidate will speak their “Vision and Approach to Expand the Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program on O‘ahu.” 

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27 April 2020

Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics

These soil-less gardens just need a little fertilizer

Hydroponics vs. Aquaponics
Tilling the soil before you plant can be difficult, especially if the land is rocky or paved over. But don’t let that stop you from growing vegetables! Soil-less agriculture is an alternative that requires less physical effort and uses less space. Two good examples are hydroponics and aquaponics. But which one better suits you? That depends on your preference for dealing with soluble fertilizer or live fish.
 
Hydroponic systems may have been utilized thousands of years ago (think of the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon!). It may seem contradictory to grow plants without any soil, but actually it often works better than in-soil gardening. For plants to flourish, they need just two things: essential nutrients and water. Thus, if nutrients are present in the water and delivered to the roots, the plant has no need for soil.
 
Hydroponic systems don’t need arable land and consume fewer resources, yet crops can be higher quality than those grown by traditional methods. These benefits are increasing the popularity of hydroponics, which is spawning many inspiring, creative applications in urban gardening.
Aquaponic systems are another soil-less innovation, one that combines growing plants and raising fish. Fish excrete waste, beneficial microbes convert the waste into usable nutrients for plants, and the roots naturally filter the water to provide a clean living environment for fish and microbes. It’s a symbiotic relationship that results in an incredibly efficient system!
 
Design
Hydroponics typically utilizes 6”-deep grow beds, since the roots can easily spread out within the aquatic solution without risking root compaction. Aquaponic grow beds must be deeper, a minimum of 12”, so fish have enough room to swim around.
 
Another difference is the environment. Hydroponic systems are very sterile, since there’s no need for extraneous growing media to support the plants or root systems. Aquaponic environments, on the other hand, must harbor the beneficial microorganisms around the roots.
 
Nutrients
Hydroponics is best for plants with high nutrient needs; you simply adapt the solution to meet the plant’s needs. Aquaponics typically supports plants with lower needs, such as lettuce, leafy greens, and herbs. Or, if you need more nutrients and the tank is big enough, you just add more fish!
Speaking of nutrients, don’t forget to feed the fish in an aquaponic system! How much and what feed depends on the fish you’re raising.
 
Acidity and Salt
Correct water acidity is essential to any aquatic-based growing system. The optimum pH in hydroponics is 5.5–6.5. Be aware that salt-based fertilizers, recirculated over and over in the nutrient solution, will naturally build up salt content, raising the electrical conductivity (EC) of water. Unchecked, it could reach levels high enough to damage the plants.
 
Aquaponic water should be neutral or slightly acidic, with an optimal 6.5–7.0 pH to safely harbor your fish. Fish waste has very little salt, so high EC is rarely a concern for plants. However, fish waste does add acid to the water, so monitor the pH level.
 
Maintenance
With aquaponics, you must feed your fish daily. However, other than checking the pH and ammonia levels weekly, there’s usually no need to flush and replace the nutrient solution, thanks to the naturally occurring symbiosis that keeps the levels in check.
 
With hydroponics, it’s necessary to periodically drain the aquatic solution and replenish with a new batch before the salts become concentrated. This means monitoring the pH, EC, total dissolved solids, and nutrient concentration.
 
As you can see, the systems vary in upfront labor vs. upkeep needed. Which one is better for you? Both are popular, and both provide the grower with distinct advantages over traditional gardening. Have fun trying both of them!
 
Amjad Ahmad, Cooperative Extension Service, Sustainable & Organic Agriculture Program, UH College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources