Screen House Field Day
Waimanalo Research Center
On May 30th Members of the Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program (SOAP) held a field day for agricultural producers at the Waimanalo Research Station. Participants spent the morning with Extension Agent, Jari Sugano and Associate Professor, Dr. Koon Hui Wang as they talked about the benefits and disadvantages of screen and high tunnel systems
Replicated and observational field trials conducted to date have shown that screen systems provide excellent control of agricultural pest such as birds, fruit flies, Chinese rose beetles, and Lepidoptera (worm type) pests. Management of small insect pest such as whiteflies, aphids, thrips, mites, etc. are difficult to control with physical barriers, alone. The field day reinforced the importance of using resistant varieties in screen systems to manage small insect vectors that transmit plant viruses.
Over 50 participants in attendance had an opportunity to walk through a commercial high tunnel kit system and talk with USDA NRCS about cost share opportunities through the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and / or Agriculture Management Assistance (AMA) Program.
Thank you to all who came out and made it a fun and educational day!