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 publicly 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:

• Hawaiʻi Island - Russell Nagata ([email protected]) and Sharon Motomura ([email protected])
• Maui - Robin Shimabuku ([email protected])
• Molokaʻi and Lanaʻi - Alton Arakaki ([email protected])
• Oʻahu - Jari Sugano ([email protected]) and Jensen Uyeda ([email protected])  

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: [email protected] 

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:  [email protected] 

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.

• ID Tools: http://www.idtools.org/ 

FMI: Dr. Gregory A. Koob, email: [email protected] 

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: [email protected] 

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: [email protected] 

NEW from CTAHR

• Bacterial Wilt of Edible Ginger in Hawaii 
• A Practitionerʻs Guide for Testing Herbicide Efficacy With the Incision Point Application (IPA) Technique on Invasive Woody Plant Species 
• On-Farm Practices for Cut, Bagged Leafy Greens 
• Meat Goat Basics for Hawaii 
• Green and Healthy Hawaii: Identifying and Introducing Alternative Ornamental Landscape Plants in Response of Invasive Species Issues  
• Nitrogen Cycling in Flooded Taro Agriculture 
• The Allowed Use of Commercial Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Synthetic Substances on U.S. Farms Under the USDA National Organic Program  

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: [email protected]  

HOFA Grow Organic

• February 8, 2014 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Kualoa Ranch, Oahu
• $20 for non-members, $10 for HOFA members, lunch included (from Down to Earth)
• Become a HOFA member or renew by Jan 31st and attend for free!
• FMI and to register, visit http://www.hawaiiorganic.org/news-events?newsid=432 , or call (808) 322-6633.

The Allowed Use of Commercial Fertilizers, Pesticides, and Synthetic Substances on U.S. Farms Under the USDA National Organic Program  

http://www.extension.org/pages/25242/webinars-by-eorganic#.UtIScPbHSrg 

http://www.youtube.com/eOrganic 

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

• November 2013 Newsletter: Today will soon be tomorrow 
• December 2013 Newsletter: Innovation 
• January 2014: Makahiki or the New Year?  

Pollinator Conservation Short Course - Hilo, HI 

• Thursday February 6, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Imiloa Astronomy Center, Moana Hoku Room, 600 Imiloa Place, Hilo HI 96720
• Registration is $45. Discounted registration of $35 is available for HOFA members. A late registration fee of $5 will be added to registrations after January 28th. Course registration includes a copy of Attracting Native Pollinators. Lunch not included.
• Western SARE scholarships are available to the first 30 participants on a first come, first served basis.

http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e8s5q81n06d32b02&llr=tnjebhdab 

HOFA Grow Organic

• February 8, 2014 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
• Kualoa Ranch, Oahu
• $20 for non-members, $10 for HOFA members, lunch included (from Down to Earth)
• Become a HOFA member or renew by Jan 31st and attend for free!
• FMI and to register, visit http://www.hawaiiorganic.org/news-events?newsid=432, or call (808) 322-6633.

Hawaiian 'Uala (sweet potato) Variety Field Day 

• Saturday February 15th, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm 
• UH Waimanalo Experiment Station, Organic Plots, 41-698 Ahiki St, Phone: (808) 259-7201 (UH Field Station) 
• FMI: Contact [email protected] 
• View announcement here. 

Forum on Cover Crops and Soil Health

• February 18th, 2014
• Live-streamed video broadcast of the opening sessions of the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health in Omaha, Neb. Following the broadcast, discuss with fellow forum participants how cover cropping can build soil health, improve yields, curb erosion, manage pests and build resilience into your farming system.
• For more information: http://www.sare.org/Events/Forum-on-Cover-Crops-and-Soil-Health 
• For a list of Hawaii Forum Locations: http://www.sare.org/Events/Forum-on-Cover-Crops-and-Soil-Health/Forum-Locations  

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.

USDA Blog:  http://blogs.usda.gov/ 

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/.

Invasion - Little Fire Ants in Hawaii

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.

 http://www.forestrywebinars.net/ 

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.

• Part 1: My Land Plan 
• Part 2: Important spatial data sources 
• Part 3: Google Earth (GE) Part 1 (Basics)
• Part 4: Google Earth Part 2 (Intermediate) 

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.

No scared - fail forward. Go all in: if you go half assed, that's what you get. If you don't plant, you will not harvest. Invest in planning and infrastructure especially wind breaks.

Sustainable and Organic Program

NOP Organic Insider