M. Kawate, J. Uchida, J. Coughlin, M. Melzer, C. Kadooka, J. Kam, J. Sugano, and S. Fukuda, UH CTAHR PEPS 

Ti leaf (Cordyline sp.) also known locally as Kī is an important agricultural crop to Hawaii. Laboratory and field trials which evaluated promising crop protection chemicals for possible minor crop fungicide registrations have been completed with the assistance of CTAHR's IR-4 Minor Crop Pesticide Registration Program. Read here.  

FMI: Michael K Kawate, email: [email protected] 

Soil solarization is a non-chemical soil treatment that utilizes solar radiation and a thin film of transparent mulch to heat the soil for soil pasteurization. Soil solarization has been studied as an alternative to chemical soil fumigant and as a pre-emergent control for weed seeds in the ground. This article discusses certain challenges of using solarization in the humid tropics and methods to overcome these obstacles. Read here.

FMI: Josiah Marquez, email: [email protected] and Koon-Hui Wang, email: [email protected] 

Rhizosphere Inoculum and Amendment

Koon-Hui Wang, CTAHR PEPS

The frequent use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides has lead to disruption of soil health, which often goes unnoticed. New generations of farmers are seeking profitable organic food crop production. Prohibitively high costs of organic fertilizers in Hawaii are providing incentive for farmers to utilize beneficial microorganisms to improve plant health. Many organic farmers are well aware of the benefits of beneficial soil microorganisms for farming. This handout introduces several approaches to invigorate soil microbial activities in agroecosystems to manage root health for profitable fertility and some soil-born stress or disease management. View handout here.

FMI: Dr. Koon-Hui Wang, email: [email protected] 

Andrea Kawabata and Stuart T. Nakamoto

Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) has the ability to decimate a coffee crop if left unmanaged. Proper control involves using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach where field sanitation, monitoring, spraying and timely harvests are of utmost importance. Learn about some important and updated CBB recommendations and tips from the 2014 CBB IPM Summit. Read here.

FMI: Andrea Kawabata, email: [email protected]
 

Producing High Nitrogen Liquid Fertilizer for Fertigation Purposes

Amjad A. Ahmad, Theodore J.K. Radovich, Nguyen V. Hue, and Alton Arakaki UH-CTAHR TPSS

 

Replacing imported fertilizers with local resources is the highest research and education priority identified by stakeholders throughout the Pacific. The production of locally derived nutrient solutions for fertigation will keep local farmers competitive, reduce water-use and loss, and protect the environment by reducing chemical use. The main objective of this study was to produce high nitrogen soluble fertilizer  for fertigation purposes using local organic materials. The lab results showed that locally produced tankage is potentially good, extractable sources of nitrogen. Incubation time, temperature, covering, and addition of vermicompost enhanced nitrogen release. Read here.

 

FMI: Amjad Ahmad, email:  [email protected] 

 

Performance of cool season cover crop in Lalamilo, Waimea, HI, Winter 2013-2014

Archana Pant, Theodore J.K. Radovich, Koon Hui Wang, N.V. Hue, Marla Fergestrom, Randall Hamasaki, Matthew Wung, Cynthia Stiles and Chris Robb

 

Cover crops are the backbone of sustainable cropping systems as they can prevent soil erosion, reduce nutrient leaching, add organic matter, improve soil health, fix nitrogen, suppress weeds and reduce insect pests and diseases. This project focused on evaluating performance of different species of cool season cover crops at high elevation growing condition in Hawaii.  Read here.

 

FMI: Archana Pant, email:  [email protected]  

 

Honeybee diet: individual forager decisions and colony health correlates

Ethel Villalobos and Zhening Zhang

 

The effect of malnutrition on the health of social bees has been the focus of many recent studies. The UH Honeybee Project has begun to look at what plants bees are utilizing in Hawaii by sampling the pollen being brought to the hive by the bees themselves. Read here.

 

FMI: Ethel Villalobos, email: [email protected]   

UH-CTAHR's "Pic-a-Papaya" Citizen Science Project

Citizen Scientists can help CTAHR researchers Scot Nelson and Richard Manshardt "Pic-a-Papaya" by helping us survey papaya plant populations in the Honolulu area for papaya ringspot disease (PRSV) and for plants with genetically engineered resistance to PRSV.  

Download and use the free Pic-a-Papaya app for smartphones to snap pics of papaya plants and send them to Drs. Nelson and Manshardt for diagnosis of PRSV. Each plant will be assessed a value of healthy or diseased and its GPS coordinates mapped to a location in Hawaii. Users of the app can view the map to see the distribution of infected plants

• Learn more at: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/pic-a-papaya/

Samples of Downy Mildew on Cucurbit Crops

Cucurbits are members of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) which includes popular crops such as cucumber, pumpkin, squash, melon and watermelon. Our lab needs to collect diseased samples from across the state of Hawaii to advance our research on this disease. This article explains downy mildew symptoms (plus photos) and gives instructions on how to participate in this research should you suspect downy mildew on your curcubits. Read more here.

Pulelehua Project

The Kamehameha butterfly (Vanessa tameamea) is endemic to Hawaiʻi, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world. Although the butterfly is historically known from all the main Hawaiian Islands, it is no longer found in some areas where it used to be common (e.g. Tantalus on Oʻahu), and it appears to be declining. The Pulelehua Project is an effort to map current populations of the Kamehameha butterfly using observations submitted by the public, combined with surveys of remote areas by scientists.

• Learn more at The Pulelehua Project website.

Business Structure and Registration:
Determine the form of ownership that best suits your business venture

Director, UH Agribusiness Incubator Program     

Many factors must be considered when choosing the best form of business ownership or structure. The choice you make can have an impact on multiple aspects of your business, including taxes, liability, ownership succession, and others. This document is an overview of the various forms of business ownership including sole proprietorship, partnering, corporations, and limited liability companies.  It includes excerpts from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Program Office guide on business structure. Read here.    

FMI: Steve Chiang, email: [email protected]  

Moloka'i Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program Newsletters 

February 2014: The Future of Organic Seed

March 2014: Current Events

April 2014: Signs of Spring

It's All About the Food: Restoring the Soul of Hawaiian Soil

With a grant from Maui County Office of Economic Development, the Hawaii Farmers Union United (HFUU)-Maui Chapter launches it's On-Farm Mentoring Project with a Pau Hana at UH-Maui College. Featuring: HFUU-Maui Chapter President, Bill Greenleaf and Hawaii Farmers Union United (HFUU) President, Vincent Mina, Alika Atay, and Richard Apana (3 Certified Instructors in Korean Natural Farming)

• Monday, April 28th 5:30-8:30
• UH-Maui Community College, Pilina Bldg. Multi-Purpose Room
• FREE
• FMI contact Phyllis Robinson, HFUU-Maui Chapter Board Member (808) 647-4066.

Big Island Chocolate Festival

• May 2-3, 2014
• Fairmont Orchid, 1 North Kaniku Drive Waimea, HI 96743
• http://www.bigislandchocolatefestival.com/  

Goat Keeping Basics Workshop

• May 3, 2014, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Kauai Agricultural Research Center, Wailua, Kauai
• Featuring Louisa Wooton of Kauai Kunana Dairy
• Registration fee $5 and space is limited
• To register contact Matt Stevenson at 808-274-3472.  Be sure to leave a message with your name and contact information if there is no answer.

Online registration is now available for a weeklong series of educational events for school garden educators, teachers, and others passionate about improving student wellness, cognitive development, and engaging deeper learning. Taking place June 7-12 in Waimea on Hawai'i Island, the four professional development events focus on the effectiveness of school gardens as an instructional strategy for both nutritional education and hands-on learning in core subject areas. Read here.

Hawaii International Tropical Fruit Conference

• September 12-14 on Maui and continues September 15-19 with day-long mini sessions in Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, Hilo and Kona.
• Registration forms and fee schedule will be available in April at www.htfg.org or by contacting Love at [email protected] or Mark Suiso at [email protected].

UH Master Gardener Statewide Conference

• Save the Dates: Oct. 24, 25, and 26, 2014, Maui
• Check for updates at our conference webpage.

(Honolulu Star Advertiser article 4/08/2014)

• Veggies are easier to enjoy when they are locally grown 

News from the Hawaii Apiary Program

The fall, winter and spring issues of Hawaii Bee are available with articles on:

• NRCS EQUIP funds to establish pollinator habitat 
• Fireweed toxins in pollen and honey 
• Maui MG beekeeping classes 
• VSH (Varroa Sensitive Hygiene) bees  
• Pesticide Survey 

FMI or to receive the quarterly newsletter, contact Dr. Danielle Downey, email: [email protected] 

USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants Announced

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing availability of Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications will be accepted from the Pacific Islands Area including: Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Complete details regarding this announcement for CIG funding opportunity can be found on the following web sites:

• www.grants.gov 
• http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/pia/programs/financial/cig 

Specialty Crops Block Grant Program, Hawaii FY 2014

• The Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA), Agricultural Development Division will administer a competitive grant process to award approximately $300,000 in
  federal funds for proposals in grant amounts ranging from $10,000 to $40,000 per project.
• Application Deadline: Friday, May 30, 2014.
• Contact: Sharon Hurd, Agricultural Development Division, phone: (808) 973-9465, Fax: (808) 973-9590, E-mail: [email protected].
• Read the press release here.

WSARE

View them all at: http://www.westernsare.org/Grants/Types-of-Grants

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.

Utilize value-addition, agritourism and species diversity to improve revenue stability for your operation.

Sustainable and Organic Program

NOP Organic Insider