Providing science-based information to serve Hawaii's Farming Community
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December | January | February 2013
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PEST ALERTS
Little Fire Ant Alert
Over the holidays, a public report of a suspicious ant at a garden shop on Maui led to the confirmation that little fire ants (LFA; Wasmannia auropunctata) colonies were present in hapu`u logs imported from Hawaiʻi island, for sale in multiple garden shops and nurseries on Oʻahu and Maui. Read here.
Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle
The Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB), a serious invasive pest, was detected on December 23, 2013 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor – Hickam on coconut trees. Read here.
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Sustainable & Organic Research &
Outreach News
News from Hawai'i's Researchers and Extension
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Peaches in Hawaii?
Alton Arakaki, CTAHR CES Molokaʻi
With the support of CTAHR, a Statewide low-chill peach variety trial is underway with plantings of four low-chill varieties, Tropic Snow, Tropic Beauty, Tropic Prince and Tropic Sweet, all publically available varieties, at 50 cooperator and CTAHR sites. Extension Agents and cooperators will be monitoring and recording the growth characteristics and productivity of the varieties. Read here.
For more information about CTAHRʻs low-chill peach variety trials, contact the following extension agents:
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Turfgrass Integrated Pest Management
Zhiqiang Cheng, Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, CTAHR
The overall goal of turfgrass management is to produce healthy turf. Healthy turf could result in the best possible quality under a given set of growing conditions. In addition, healthy turf usually replies less on fertilizers and pesticides to achieve the desired quality. Traditional turf management oftentimes replies on routine, usually calendar-based, applications of fertilizers and pesticides. Although many studies have shown that chemicals properly applied on turf areas pose insignificant environmental concerns (there are still debating on these though), turfgrass integrated pest management (IPM) programs are becoming popular. Read here.
FMI: Zhiqiang Cheng, email: cheng241@hawaii.edu
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Do It Yourself Affordable Screen Houses
Jari Sugano, Steven Fukuda, Jensen Uyeda, Koon-Hui Wang, and Theodore Radovich
A screen house is an effective tool to minimize pest from damaging crops which may result in reduced productivity, crop and financial losses. It serves as a physical barrier which puts the pest at a disadvantage. Building a screen house does not have to be costly. Construction of a screen house using home improvement store supplies may help minimize pest populations, reduce pesticide applications and increase production yields. A return on investment can be seen within a few crop cycles, depending on the crop and other external conditions. Read here.
FMI: Jari Sugano, email: SuganoJ@ctahr.hawaii.edu
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USDA-APHIS Web-Based Tools for “Bug Busting”
Gregory A. Koob, State Biologist, USDA-NRCS- Pacific Islands Area
Created by USDA-APHIS’ Identification Technology Program (ITP), ID Tools helps to quickly identify pests, including insects, diseases, harmful weeds, and more, through an efficient, online database system. ID Tools currently includes more than 30 websites covering a vast array of pests and pests associated with specific commodities. ITP’s ID Tools web site receives about 12,000 visitors a month and is not only for experts. Read here.
FMI: Dr. Gregory A. Koob, email: gregory.koob@hi.usda.gov
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Hawai‘i’s Growing Farm to School Movement
Lydi Morgan Bernal, Hawai‘i Farm to School and School Garden Hui, The Kohala Center
At least 43% of all schools in Hawai‘i -- K-12, public, charter, and independent -- have a school garden, according to the first ever statewide school garden survey, conducted by the Hawai‘i Farm to School and School Garden Hui in 2012. School gardens are not a new idea for Hawai‘i. Read here.
FMI: Lydi Morgan Bernal, email: lydi@kokuahawaiifoundation.org
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The Hawai‘i Public Seed Network Continues to Grow
Lyn Howe, HPSN Program Coordinator, The Kohala Center
The Hawai‘i Public Seed Initiative’s 2-day workshop, “Train the Trainers” held in 2013 in Kona continued the work to further education of seed saving and seed production in the Hawaiian Islands. Network leaders from around the islands came together to help identify goals for their respective islands for the next 2 years. The ideas presented led to exciting possibilities and plans for 2014-15. Read here.
FMI: Lyn Howe, email: lynhowe1946@yahoo.com
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Publications & Programs
for sustainable and organic production systems
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From the Agribusiness Incubator
Positioning and Branding: Differentiate Yourself
By Steven Chiang,
Director, UH Agribusiness Incubator Program
Positioning relates to a strategic decision on how you want your products or services to be perceived by customers, relative to competitive companies/products/services. In Positioning you typically want to differentiate yourself from your competition. Branding, for the purposes of this section, describes the tactics used to influence your brand – your brand being how customers perceive your company/products/services. Read here.
FMI: Steve Chiang, email: schiang@hawaii.edu
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GoFarm Hawaiʻi gets funding and Two new locations
The GoFarm Hawaiʻi beginning farmer training program, received over $250,000 in funding from the Ulupono Fund at the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Kamehameha Schools. The program, started in 2012, recently graduated its first cohort of students and is halfway to graduating its second cohort. A third cohort kicks off with the AgCurious seminar to be held at Windward Community College on March 3rd. New GoFarm Hawaiʻi sites at Kauaʻi Community College and Leeward Community College launch this spring. Read here.
Molokaʻi Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program
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Christine S. Clarke, Acting Director for the USDA NRCS Pacific Islands Area
Jason Weller, Chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced Ms. Christine S. Clarke as the Acting Director for the Pacific Islands Area. Effective January 6, 2014, Ms. Clarke will be in Honolulu to oversee the NRCS employees throughout Hawaii and the Pacific. Read here..
7th Organic Seed Growers Conference
Nutrient Management Workshop
The Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District recently held their second soil health workshop covering nutrient management on November 20, 2013 at the Waimea Civic Center in Waimea Town on the Big Island. The very informative workshop consisted of various speakers from University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, UH Cooperative Extension Service, and presentations from NRCS. Read here.
HATA offers Hilo Grown Ag-Tours
Hawaii Ag-tours is a project of the Hawaii Agritourism Association, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the advancement of agriculture through tourism and education. Hilo Grown Ag-Tour is funded through a grant from the Hawaii tourism authority (HTA) and the Hawaii county product enrichment program (CPEP). Find out more about the Hawaii Agritourism Association at http://www.hiagtourism.org/.
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VIDEOS
Invasion: Little Fire Ants in Hawaii
http://youtu.be/eIUre6lz2GI
This film, produced by the Maui Invasive Species Committee, aims to change the result of the arrival of little fire ants in Hawaii. Featuring videography from award-winning film makers Masako Cordray and Chris Reickert, this half-hour film examines the biology, impacts, and potential solutions to the spread of little fire ants through interviews with scientists, farmers, and community on the Big Island reeling from the impacts of this minuscule, but devastating, ant. Viewers will learn how to identify and report new infestations, helping to protect Hawaii from this small stinging ant.
Webinar Portal for Forestry and Natural Resources
http://www.forestrywebinars.net/\
Online Mapping Tools for the Natural Resource Professional Webinar Series
This is a 4-part series intended for natural resource professionals to become familiar with important sources of online mapping tools and data without the need for a complex GIS program.
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Western Region Sustainable Agriculture and Education Program (WSARE)
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The Winter 2013 issue of Simply Sustainable contains a Spotlight on Hawaii, plus articles about Rehabilitating Degraded Grassland, Compost Trainings, Cover Crop Gathering, Writing a Successful Proposal, and the Extension Sustainability Summit.
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).
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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 4 Nov, 2021
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