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Mahalo! Hilo Medical Center

Mahalo! Hilo Medical Center 6 January 2021

Mahalo! Hilo Medical Center

Extension researchers donate flower bouquets for healthcare workers

Joanna Bloese has joined the Extension team at Komohana Research Center, and one of her first projects with researcher Joanne Lichty is to examine the effects of soluble silicon fertilizers on plant defense responses, mainly thrips damage in two flowers beloved in the Hawaiian islands: dendrobium and anthurium.

Besides the good news, that preliminary results suggest the fertilizers show potential for improving plant resistance across some cultivars, Joanna and Joanne also found a more immediate impact on the community: as “Thank you” bouquets for healthcare workers on the front lines of Covid.

The Poi Dog Factory

The Poi Dog Factory 6 January 2021

The Poi Dog Factory

Cattle-breeding technologies are positioning Mealani as an industry leader

I received my BS and MS in Animal Sciences from CTAHR and went to work for the college, but after a long career, I’ve hung up my spurs and retired.

Before I say Aloha! and Mahalo!, I want to tell you about a special cattle-breeding project by Extension at Mealani Research Station.

AgCurious Kicks Off

AgCurious Kicks Off 6 January 2021

AgCurious Kicks Off

GoFarm will start a new cohort Jan. 14 in Hilo

Know someone or some family that might be looking to improve their farming production and agribusiness skills? CTAHR’s highly successful GoFarm program will kick off 2021 with a new cohort at its Alae site in Hilo. Please forward and share with your networks.

Immediate Benefits

Immediate Benefits 21 December 2020

Immediate Benefits

Taro trials also feed a hungry community

What hasn’t changed during this pandemic is the need for research trials. What HAS changed is the community’s greater need for food donations.

 

Saving Seed

Saving Seed 15 December 2020

Saving Seed

Glenn Teves and Jay Bost join "The Conversation" on HPR

Hawai’i Public Radio’s “The Conversation” series recently hosted two special guests: Glenn Teves of Molokai Extension and Jay Bost of GoFarm.

The Conversation’s Community Growers Urge Residents To Plant Seeds “really resonated with our audience” and “received positive feedback during and after the show!” notes HPR.

Mushroom Trip

Mushroom Trip 15 December 2020

Mushroom Trip

Extension’s hands-on school program stokes excitement and interest

What is a mushroom? Is it a fruit, or is it vegetable? Is it even a plant? During this pandemic, it’s more important than ever to create hands-on “classroom” activities that students can do from home. Look no further than Extension educators, who’ve been able to deliver on CTAHR’s Land Grant obligations by helping Oʻahu students cultivate oyster mushrooms.

Invasive Pests, Part III

Invasive Pests, Part III 23 November 2020

Invasive Pests, Part III

Extension hosts another mini-conference December 15

With the main objective to bring stakeholders together, in the same forum, to discuss and share current issues, concerns, and updates on the status and research in Hawaiʻi, CTAHR Extension will host the third Invasive Pests Mini-Conference via Zoom: December 15, 1:00 p.m.

Giant Smiles, Part II

Giant Smiles, Part II 16 November 2020

Giant Smiles, Part II

4-H contest gets keiki excited about agriculture

“The opportunity to grow ‘giants’ with my children is a blessing,” says Wendi Sasaki. “We were able to spend quality time together, learning and growing.’”

The parent participant is referring to a contest of giant fruits and vegetables, brought to Big Island families by the Hawai'i County 4-H program.

I Owe Uncle Sam What?!

I Owe Uncle Sam What?! 9 November 2020

I Owe Uncle Sam What?!

Learn to navigate Ag taxes with GoFarm Hawaiʻi’s free seminars

If doing taxes is a piece of cake for you, then stop reading now. But for the rest of us who cringe at the thought of preparing our own Agribusiness General Excise taxes, Schedule F and other forms of sole proprietorship or partnership, help is on the way.

Mahalo, Volunteers!

Mahalo, Volunteers! 2 November 2020

Mahalo, Volunteers!

Urban Garden Center hosts the 2020 Volunteer Appreciation Day

Forty-eight cars and trucks took their turns, driving thru the grounds of the Urban Garden Center for a well-deserved chance to vote on their favorite Halloween decoration, and receive tools generously donated by City Mill, as well as other tokens of mahalo! from the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, UH Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center, UH Bookstore, and CTAHR.

Coffee Leaf Rust

Coffee Leaf Rust 2 November 2020

Coffee Leaf Rust

Pest confirmed on Maui and tentatively on Hawai`i Island

Coffee leaf rust (CLR) has been confirmed by the U.S Dept. of Agriculture from coffee plant samples collected on Maui last week. In response, the Hawai`i Dept. of Agriculture (HDOA) began statewide surveys and has detected suspect plants on Hawai`i Island.

ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest

ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest 2 November 2020

ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest

Celebrating one of Hawaiʻi’s most beloved plants

“The most abundant tree in Hawaii’s native forest is the ‘ōhi‘a lehua, a tree critical to providing the water we drink, keeping our ocean reefs clean, and to the native Hawaiian culture,” says Ambyr U. Mokiao-Lee, Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) Statewide Outreach Coordinator. “For these reasons and more, ‘ōhi‘a will be celebrated in a week-long virtual event called ʻŌhiʻa Love Fest.

Extension Growth

Extension Growth 2 November 2020

Extension Growth

The Hawaiʻi chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi is recruiting members

Ever wonder what Extension is up to – across the pond? Want a mechanism to share experiences, ideas, what works and what didn’t, with fellow professionals on the Mainland? Then consider joining Alpha Omega, the Hawaiʻi chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

MacNut Pest Management

MacNut Pest Management 13 October 2020

MacNut Pest Management

A new study on the felted coccid can help growers manage loss from pests

Some years ago, an Australian native insect called the “macadamia felted coccid” found its way to Hawaiʻi, causing leaf and branch die back, flower drop and sometimes, tree death among Macadamia trees. Relatively recently, the invasive pest insect became widespread on the Big Island – and of course, this has led to reduced crop yields.

Hawaiiscape Green

Hawaiiscape Green 6 October 2020

Hawaiiscape Green

Extension teams up with LICH to help small and minority-owned businesses

Please join Extension agents Russell Galanti and Hannah Lutgen on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 3:00 p.m., as they present the first in a planned series of webinars on the local green industry. The first webinar will look at small and minority-owned businesses in the green industry and programs that will improve their economic situation and help them recover from COVID-related economic effects.

Piggeries in Puna

Piggeries in Puna 29 September 2020

Piggeries in Puna

A new deep-litter design may help jump-start family farms

Lower Puna has felt the stinging triple punch of hurricane, lava, and now, pandemic. Enter Mike DuPonte and a new deep-litter piggery.

Beyond Beginners

Beyond Beginners 15 September 2020

Beyond Beginners

GoFarm Hawaiʻi consults on business plans, grant writing, and a whole lot more.

Financial analysis, marketing support, business plan production, grant writing – perhaps not what you’d expect from a beginner farmer training program.

But as Janel Yamamoto explains in a recent article, GoFarm Hawaiʻi offers services for those already working in the agricultural industry.

One Busy Man

One Busy Man 9 September 2020

One Busy Man

Extension agent is helping livestock producers, near and far

What’s one way to help ranchers stay in business during a pandemic? Kyle Caires might give you three answers. Last week, the Extension agent was a guest of Maui Mayor Michael Victorino, as the mayor announced Feed My Sheep, a new CARES Act-funded partnership with local ranchers to provide ground beef to people in need.

RU AgCurious?

RU AgCurious? 19 August 2020

RU AgCurious?

GoFarm Hawaiʻi Windward kicks off another farmer training

If commercial farming is a key to economic diversification in our island state, why not start with Hawaiʻi’s premier beginning farmer training? The free webinar is the first step for anyone interested in GoFarm’s highly successful program.

Giant Smiles

Giant Smiles 19 August 2020

Giant Smiles

4-H contest gets keiki excited about agriculture

For eight years and running, Hawaiʻi County 4-H has found a special way to bring out big smiles from its smallest members: a contest of giant fruits and vegetables.

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3 November 2022

Zero Dark Twolined

Extension develops an app to manage the Twolined Spittlebug

Zero Dark Twolined

By the time it was discovered in Hawaiʻi in 2016, this invasive pest had already damaged 2,000 acres of rangeland. A scant eight generations later, the Twolined Spittlebug (TLSB) had expanded its range to more than 176,000 acres.

In highly infested areas where nymph density exceeded 50/m2, the result was nearly 100% die back of key range forages, including Kikuyu and pangola grasses – and their loss exposed the land to invasive plants like Pamakani, wild blackberry, and fireweed. Livestock producers faced devastating economic losses.

Fast forward to today. Extension’s Twolined Spittlebug Team has released “Twolined Spittlebug Tool,” a new reporting and decision-support tool for the management of TLSB in Hawaiʻi. The smartphone app allows users to learn about and correctly identify TLSB, giving landowners the ability to locate, map, and manage outbreaks on their land. Users can also assist Extension, as citizen-scientists, by using the app’s reporting tool to geolocate sightings of the pest.

“The app has four main features,” explains Mark Thorne. “First, an information guide that provides an overview of TLSB biology and ecology. Next, it helps users identify TLSB in the field and distinguish it from other, non-pest species. Third, users can report sightings of TLSB. Fourth, it allows users to determine the size of the TLSB population, and then, based on the potential damage threshold calculated, select from a series of integrated pest management decisions.”

The team, which includes Mark Wright, Shannon Wilson, Daniel Peck, and Melelani Oshiro, notes the reports include a geo-referenced picture and basic details about the habitat and geographical location of the pest. The reported data is then captured in a database and displayed on a web-based mapping tool. Users have the option to enter data on TLSB population density and provide estimates on spatial extent and observed damage in their report. Data on TLSB populations is determined by following sampling protocols provided in the fourth tool.

“We spent two years drafting content and working with developers to get the app released, and we’re confident it will facilitate tracking and documenting the spread of this pest and lead to better pest management decisions for rangeland managers,” says Mark.  

To keep track of TLSB sightings, the team has created an administrative TLSB website that displays a map of TLSB sighting reports by app users.

Visit the Google Play store or Apple store to download the app.