Providing science-based information to serve Hawaii's Farming Community
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September | October | November 2009
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Sustainable & Organic Research &
Outreach News
News from Hawai'i's Researchers and Extension
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ALERT MAIZE MOSAIC VIRUS
Status Report Sept. 2010
We are currently having one of the more severe epidemics of MMV. It is reported on all islands and can be a killer. MMV (‘maize mosaic virus’) is a serious dwarfing disease, originally called “maize stunt”. READ full announcement here.
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Growing Your Business
Linda J. Cox and Dr. Ted Radovich
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
"Organic" Pesticides: What's the Cost?
Several approaches can be used to promote plant health. Pest pressure may result in the need for chemical intervention. This article presents information on products that are EPA registered and the per acre cost of one application for each one.
READ the full article here.
FMI: Linda Cox, email: lcox@hawaii.edu
FMI: Ted Radovich, email: theodore@hawaii.edu
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CTAHR Sustainable & Organic Research News
News from our researchers
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How the Varroa mite is changing the way we farm in Hawaii
Ethel Villalobos
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
While the Varroa mite weakens adult bees and their larvae by feeding on them, the greatest danger is that the mite is a vector in the transmission of viral pathogens. Preliminary research indicates that certain diseases are now widespread among Oahu’s honeybee colonies, since the Varroa mite was detected for the first time on Oahu in 2007. Control of Varroa mite levels is an absolute necessity, and determining what is a suitable Integrated Pest Management Strategy for this pest is one of the UH Honeybee Project main concerns. This article provides an overview of the work being done by the UH Honeybee Project.
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What do you do with 829 tons of algae?
Kimo Franklin and Malama Maunalua
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
The Maunalua Bay Reef Restoration Project, otherwise known as “The Great Huki” is a project of The Nature Conservancy, Mālama Maunalua, and Pono Pacific. Over 800 tons of non-native algae have been cleared from Maunalua Bay as a result of the project. After it is removed, the algae is composted and used by commercial agricultural operations or community residents.
READ the full article here.
Kimo Franklin, Mālama Maunalua, email: bkfisle@hawaii.rr.com
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Evaluating Limu Compost as a Soil Amendment
Ted Radovich and Nguyen Hue
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
UH-CTAHR, Mālama Maunalua and others are working together to determine the mineral nutrient content of alien algae species, to estimate acceptable loading rates for salts and metals from algal applications, and to optimize processing procedures for salt reduction and maximum nutrient content. Some preliminary nutrient analyses from Maunalua Bay limu species are presented.
READ the full article here.
Ted Radovich (email: theodore@hawaii.edu) and
Nguyen Hue (email: nvhue@hawaii.edu), UH-CTAHR
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Evaluation of Resistant Tomato Yellows Leaf Curl Virus Varieties
Jari Sugano and Steve Fukuda
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
Tomato is an important economical crop for many farmers on Oahu. Tomato yellows leaf curl virus (TYLCV) was first identified in tomato around November 2009. It can be devastating on susceptible tomato varieties/hybrids. Plants become chlorotic, stunted, leaflets cup upwards and flowers abort. This virus is very efficiently transmitted by the silver leaf whitefly and the sweet potato whitefly. Alternate hosts for the virus are solanaceous crops such as potato, pepper, eggplant, tobacco, etc. Common beans and weeds are also known to have harbored this virus. Usually alternate hosts do not exhibit any viruslike symptoms.
We have about 8 tolerant tomato hybrids (determinate and indeterminate) at the Poamoho Research Station. Early hybrids have been in harvest since July 15 and late producing hybrids are still in production. Data is still being tabulated.
READ the full article here.
Jari Sugano (email: SuganoJ@ctahr.hawaii.edu) and
Steve Fukuda (email: sfukuda@hawaii.edu), UH-CTAHR CES
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Alleviating Soil Acidity with Crop Residues
Nguyen Hue
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
Nguyen Hue, UH-CTAHR, email: nvhue@hawaii.edu
Soil acidity is a serious constraint for crop production in many regions of the world. Soil acidity is traditionally corrected by applications of lime, however larger applications of lime are costly, if lime is even available. This paper describes how crop residues may be used to alleviate the soil acidity, at least in the short term. The effectiveness of the soil organic amendments varied with residue type and mode of preparation (i.e., fresh or ashed). A combination of lime and organic materials is recommended as a cost effective alternative to improve soil fertility and yield.
READ the full article here.
Nguyen Hue, UH-CTAHR, email: nvhue@hawaii.edu
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Advice for Farmers growing New or Unfamiliar Crops
Scot Nelson
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
Farmers often experiment with unfamiliar crops in order to identify those that have economic potential. This article outlines how producers can anticipate threats, prevent problems, diagnose problems correctly and manage diseases promptly in order to ensure that the outcomes of such experiments are more successful.
READ the full article here.
Scot Nelson, UH-CTAHR Plant Pathologist, email: snelson@hawaii.edu
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Native Wildlife Habitat and Farming: Yes, They are Compatible
Gregory Koob, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, email: gregory.koob@hi.usda.gov
Farmers and ranchers can find, restore, or create some habitat for native animals by managing their land with this goal in mind. This article provides information, based on recommendations from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, for agricultural producers about how to be a better steward for native wildlife.
READ the full article here.
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Earthworms in the Farm
Hector Valenzuela
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
Earthworms are increasingly being recognized as key “ecological engineers” because of their key role in improving soil fertility. They are also increasingly recognized as key indicators of sustainability and soil health on the farm. This article summarizes much of work that has been done on earthworms to date in Hawaii and other parts of the world.
READ the full article here.
Hector Valenzuela, UH-CTAHR, email: hector@hawaii.edu
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Why do organic farmers need to keep good nematodes in their soil?
Koon-Hui Wang
University of Hawai'i at Manoa, CTAHR
Nematodes can disseminate microbial propagules throughout the soil, which advances the colonization of substrates and mineralization of nutrients. Nematode metabolites may also stimulate specific bacterial growth by releasing growth-limiting nutrients. This article presents research information about the benefits of free-living nematodes in soil nutrient cycling.
READ the full article here.
Koon-Hui Wang, UH-CTAHR, email: koonhui@hawaii.edu
For more information about CTAHR's research, see our monthly CTAHR Research News Magazine.
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FMI/FYI
RATS, PARROTS, PIGS? Introduced Animal Survey for Hawaii Farmers
Problems with introduced wildlife damaging your crops, or interfering with your livestock? Participate in a survey to help wildlife managers incorporate your preferences into new wildlife management plans and decide which tools they should use to manage the rats, parrots, pigs etc. that may be affecting your livelihood.
The Public Seed Initiative website is up and alive! share this URL with any groups or individuals on your Islands that might want to become a seed saver or network with others who are. http://www.kohalacenter.org/publicseedinitiative/about.html
Hawai‘i Agritourism Association Polycom Meeting: Oct 6, 2010, 10:00 – 11:30 am. Send your RSVP soon to info@hiagtourism.org. Polycom locations will only be set up if there is a RSVP for that location, so please advise which location you will be going to. FMI: Lani Weigert, President, Hawai‘i AgriTourism Association, lani@hiagtourism.org, Cell (808) 283-3777.
USDA announced the launch of Ask the Expert, a knowledge-based search engine. Visit Ask the Expert online today and view available information or submit an inquiry at http://www.usda.gov/askexpert.
Specialty Crops for Pacific Island Agroforestry 2007-2010. Several new profiles are available for download (.pdf) at http://agroforestry.net/scps/ such as:
Crop Insurance for Organic Crops: According to the Kiplinger Agriculture Letter, the 2008 farm bill requires that price elections or estimated values be offered on all organic crops by 2013. An organic crop insurance program sponsored by USDA has made insurance available for organic crops for years. But since market data on organic products is often not available, conventional crop values plus a 5% premium has been used to value organic crops. Conventional crops often have values much lower than organic crops. The estimated value of organic corn, for example, would be 152% of those for conventional corn. The lack of organic sales data will make it difficult to get all the necessary estimated organic values by 2013.
Scientists Release First Cultivated 'Ōhelo Berry for Hawaii: The first cultivar of Ohelo berry (Vaccinium reticulatum), called "Kilauea", has been released by USDA.
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Western Region Sustainable Agriculture and Education Program (WSARE)
In 1996, Dr. Susan Schenck of the Hawaiian Agriculture Research Center (HARC) received a SARE Research and Education Grant to carry out her project, “Evaluation of a Perennial Vegetable, Asparagus, as a New Commercial Crop for Hawaiian Farmers.” The cooperating farmer started with ½ acre in asparagus, and today he is our Featured Farmer, Mr. Milton Agader, now known statewide for his asparagus production.
Since 1988, the WSARE program has been supporting agricultural profitability, environmental integrity and community strength through grants that enable cutting-edge research and education to open windows on sustainability across the West, including Hawaii. The goals of WSARE are:
- Promote good stewardship of our natural resources.
- Enhance the quality of life of farmers and ranchers and ensure the viability of rural communities.
- Protect the health and safety of those involved in food and farm systems.
- Promote crop, livestock and enterprise diversification.
- Examine the regional, economic, social and environmental implications of adopting sustainable agriculture practices and systems.
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For more information, please see: https://wsare.usu.edu/ or contact Hawaii WSARE coordinator Dr. Ted Radovich at theodore@hawaii.edu.
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This e-publication has been prepared by CTAHR research scientists and extension staff to deliver science-based information about sustainable and organic production systems to serve Hawaii's farming community.
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Mahalo nui loa,
Eric Collier, Education Specialist and Managing Editor
Dr. Linda Cox and Dr. Ted Radovich
Jody Smith, e-Extension Manager
Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program
Cooperative Extension Service
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
The University of Hawai‘i is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.
Jody Smith | Web Manager | smithjos@hawaii.edu
Copyright ©2013 University of Hawai‘i - College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Updated 6 January, 2013
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