The Food Provider

June | July | August 2014

Maui Master Gardener Program:

Attractors, Repellants, Trappers and Pollinators – Insectary Plants

Lorraine Brooks, Maui CES Extension Agent, UH-CTAHR

Mary Matsukawa and John Torrence, MG Class of 2014

The 2014 cohort of Maui Master Gardeners completed their gardens and class work in May. The class created four new gardens at the UH/Maui College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) site. The idea behind this year’s gardens is to demonstrate how plants can attract pollinators, repel insects that damage crops and also trap insect pests away from crop product. Read here.



FMI: Lorraine Brooks, email: llb@hawaii.edu

Small-scale Laying Hen Feeding Trial

Matthew H. Stevenson, UH-CTAHR HNFAS

A series of backyard chicken raising workshops held on Kauai and Maui from 2010 – 2011 revealed a need for more information on feeding strategies for small flocks in Hawaii. To that end, we designed a demonstration trial to test four simple feeding approaches many small-scale flock owners use for laying hens. Read here.

FMI: Matthew Stevenson, email: stevenso@hawaii.edu

Determining fruit fly (Family Tephritidae) host status of moringa tree pods, Moringa oleifera Lam., in Hawaiʻi

Christine Lynch and Helen Spafford, CTAHR PEPS

There has been a growing interest on Oʻahu to find more ways to market and sell different edible parts of the moringa, since many growers already have moringa trees on their farms. This study has helped prove that moringa pods are not a suitable host for the four invasive fruit flies found in Hawaiʻi. Read here.

FMI: Christine Lynch, email: calynch@hawaii.edu

Mushroom Compost to battle against nematode pests on vegetable crops

Shelby Ching and Koon-Hui Wang, UH-CTAHR TPSS

Many farmers are looking for alternative methods to chemical approaches for managing nematodes in the soil. This project is exploring different approaches to use mushroom compost for the suppression of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) through: 1) direct incorporation of the mushroom substrate into the soil before crop planting, 2) drenching mushroom compost water extract into the root system after crop planting, and 3) amending mushroom compost into the growth media of transplant trays. Read here.

FMI: Shelby Ching, email: chingsa@hawaii.edu or Dr. Koon-Hui Wang, email:

koon-hui@hawaii.edu

Quick & Applied Agricultural Trial:

Persian Cucumber (Beit Alpha) Variety Screening 2014

J. Sugano, J. Uyeda, S. Fukuda, S. Migita and K.-H. Wang, UH-CTAHR

Oahu CES establishes critical on-farm field experiments in conjunction with edible crop growers to tackle priority crop production issues that strive to improve productivity and profitability. This article summarizes a recent preliminary field trial evaluating 12 different varieties/hybrids of Persian cucumbers due to increased interest and popularity in the market place. Read here.



FMI: Jari Sugano, email: suganoj@ctahr.hawaii.edu

Publications & Programs

for sustainable and organic production systems 

NEW from CTAHR

Q1 2014 CTAHR Impact Report

• Hawaii Farmers Market and Agritourism Venues: Best Food Business and Food Handling Practices for Farmers and Vendors
• Fig Rust in Hawai‘i
• A Farmer’s Guide to Biological, Chemical, and Physical Food Adulteration
• Protecting Tree Plantations From Fire in Hawai‘i
• The Economics of Coffee Production in Hawai'i
• Carambola: Postharvest Quality-Maintenance Guidelines
• Dragon Fruit: Postharvest Quality-Maintenance Guidelines
• Durian: Postharvest Quality-Maintenance Guidelines
• Longan: Postharvest Quality-Maintenance Guidelines
• Lychee: Postharvest Quality-Maintenance Guidelines
• Papaya: Postharvest Quality-Maintenance Guidelines
• Pineapple: Postharvest Quality-Maintenance Guidelines
• Rambutan: Postharvest Quality-Maintenance Guidelines

Biotech in Focus (from the Biotechnology Outreach Program, CTAHR)



NEW 'Ulu (Breadfruit) Publications

• Breadfruit Production Guide: Recommended Practices for Growing, Harvesting and Handling, 2nd Edition (Elevitch, Ragone, Cole)

From the Agribusiness Incubator

Cash Flow:

Determine how much cash you need to operate your business

By Steven Chiang

Director, UH Agribusiness Incubator Program

A cash flow projection enables you to anticipate how much cash is expected to flow in and out of your business. It is a forecast of your company’s cash income and expenses on a periodic basis (e.g. weekly or monthly). Use it to predict cash shortfalls, financing needs, and to plan for investments and expenditures. Read here.

FMI: Steve Chiang, email: schiang@hawaii.edu

Organic Update

Waimanalo Research Station holds sustainable agriculture open house: 

CTAHR showcases 20 years of sustainable and organic research and practice

2013 marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of CTAHR's organic extension and outreach at the Waimanalo research station by Dr Hector Valenzuela. The Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program (SOAP) at the UH Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resouces (CTAHR) hosts an Organic Field Day at the college’s Waimanalo Research Station on Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The field day includes variety trials of hot peppers and eggplant as well as educational displays on taro, ‘uala (sweet potato), papaya, and fertilizer types. Additional events will be held and announced via the organic listserv and posted to our events page.

For more information on CTAHR's Organic program, visit http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/organic/.

USDA to continue funding organic certification

USDA announced that approximately $13 million in Farm Bill funding is now available for organic certification cost-share assistance. The certification assistance is distributed through two programs within the Agricultural Marketing Service. Through the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program, $11.5 million is available to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. Territories. Through the Agricultural Management Assistance Organic Certification Cost-Share Program, an additional $1.5 million is available to organic operations in 16 states including Hawaii.

Welcome Dr. Jean Richardson as new NOSB Chair! 

In May 2014, the NOSB elected Dr. Jean Richardson as its new Chair. Jean was appointed to the NOSB in January 2012 in one of the three "Consumer/ Public Interest" positions. Jean is Professor Emerita, University of Vermont, where she taught Environmental Studies and Environmental Law. She currently works with her family to produce certified organic maple syrup and is an independent inspector of organic farms and processors, as well as providing consultation on rural land use planning and serving as a Justice of the Peace. 

Read the full story at: http://www.nationalorganiccoalition.org/

Can You Trust That Organic Label On Imported Food?

Thats the focus of a new book, Organic: A Journalist's Quest to Discover the Truth Behind Food Labeling,  by Peter Laufer. Read the full NPR story at: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/07/23/334073167/can-you-trust-that-organic-label-on-imported-food

For New Farmers

GoFarm Hawai`i graduates 2nd cohort

Congratulations to the graduates of GoFarm Hawai`i @ Windward's AgSchool2. Ten months of hard work and learning has resulted in the development of some fine farmers, some of which are starting to farm their own land in Waimanalo and Kamehameha School's land, and some of which are entering the AgIncubator plots at CTAHR's Waimanalo Agricultural Research Station to begin their careers as real farmers! Read here.

Molokaʻi Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program Newsletters

• May 2014: 100 Years!
• June 2014: Spreading the Aloha
• July 2014: Taking a Wind Break

FMI / FYI

NRCS Dr. William Puckett, Acting Director for the Pacific Islands Area

Currently, Dr. William Puckett is the State Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama. He started with the agency as a soil scientist in Florida in 1983. With numerous awards and recognition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other agencies, Dr. Puckett worked in several NRCS offices, including Washington, DC as the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology in 2007. His detail to Honolulu is 120 days and we thank Christine Clarke for her service as the previous Acting Director.

Natural Resources Conservation Service to hold Soil Health Training

The NRCS will host a series of Soil Health Field Days and classroom sessions for NRCS employees and partners. The goal of the training is to better prepare NRCS conservation planners to improve soil health, and to share NRCS expertise with local agricultural producers and partners. Read here.

• Healthy Soils are: Full of Life

Coffee Website

Statewide coffee extension agent, Ms. Andrea Kawabata recently launched a new website to host information on coffee production, the coffee berry borer (CBB), CBB management, funding opportunities, CBB publications, upcoming events and announcements, coffee pests and problems, as well as information on the Little Fire Ant in coffee. Please follow the website below to receive the latest information regarding coffee production issues in Hawaii.

• http://hawaiicoffee.weebly.com

Western Region Sustainable Agriculture and Education Program (WSARE)

Utah State University and the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE) are proud to announce the selection of Dr. Teryl Roper as the program’s new regional director. Dr. Roper will assume his duties on July 1, 2014. The current director, Dr. V. Philip Rasmussen, will retire after 20 years with Western SARE on June 30, 2014.

Congratulations to our Hawaii WSARE 2014 grant recipients.

• Research and Education Cooperative Grant: SW14-026, “High Nutrient Solution Fertilizers Derived from Local Organic Inputs for Field and Greenhouse Application in the Tropics,” Principal Investigator: Amjad Ahmad, Hawaii; $170,466.
• Graduate Student Grant: GW14-007, “Evaluating the Potential of Oyster Mushroom Compost Waste for Plant-parasitic Nematode Management,” Principal Investigator: Shelby Ching, Hawaii; $24,920.

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 Hawai'i. 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.



For more information, please see: http://www.westernsare.org/ or contact Hawai'i WSARE co-coordinators Dr. Ted Radovich (theodore@hawaii.edu) and Jari Sugano (suganoj@ctahr.hawaii.edu). 

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.

• To continue receiving this newsletter, please confirm your interest by subscribing or updating your profile/email address.
• If this publication has been valuable, please forward it to others
• Send in your suggestions for what you want to read about in our articles
• Tell us about your research needs.

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 4 Nov, 2021