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: [email protected]  

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: [email protected] 

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: [email protected] 

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

Cash Flow: Determine how much cash you need to operate your business

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: [email protected]  

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.

AgCurious

Sustainable Agriculture Systems Summer Bridge course at UH Maui College

Now in our second year, this course is set up to target high school seniors and juniors and allows the students to enroll in the college early and get two college credits while learning about sustainable agriculture practices in Hawaii.  It is fun-filled and hands-on combining field trips, agricultural activities, and classroom work.  Dates of the 2014 Sustainable Agriculture Systems Summer Bridge are July 14-25 9am-4pm M-F.  Taking this class will give students a head-start into college and get them going in the right direction to pursue a degree in Sustainable Tropical Crop Management in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department at UH Maui College. For more information contact Mailani ([email protected]) or Malia ([email protected]).

• UH Maui College Agriculture and Natural Resources Dept Facebook Page  

Moloka'i Native Hawaiian Beginning Farmer Program Newsletters 

May 2014: 100 Years!

June 2014: Spreading the Aloha

July 2014: Taking a Wind Break

Organic Field Day

• Saturday July 26, 2014
• 9:00 am- 1:00 pm
• Waimānalo Research Station, 41-698 Ahiki St.

Come celebrate 20 years of Organic Research by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the Waimānalo Research Station featuring Chili Peppers, Eggplant, Kalo, Local Fertilizers, Screenhouses and more...

Natural Farming Workshop

• August 1, 2014, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, UH Maui College - Molokai Farm, Molokai Ag Park
• Overview of the Natural Farming Systems Initiative on Molokai - Mike Duponte
• Report on Natural Farming Certification Training  held in Kona - John Freeman & William 'Tubz' Kalipi

Sponsored by Makakuoha Cooperative, UH-CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service. For more information, call 567-6929.

6th National Sustainable Agriculture Education Association Conference

The biannual SAEA Conference is the premier forum for the presentation and discussion of the scholarship of teaching and learning in sustainable agriculture education that brings together diverse educators, students, and scholars.

• August 3-6, 2014, Raleigh, North Carolina on the campuses of North Carolina State University and Central Carolina Community College. 
• SAEA Conference Website
  http://sustainableaged.org/conferences/2014-raleigh-nc/

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.
• Click here for press release. 
• 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].

Mealani's Taste of the Hawaiian Range

• September 26,2014, 5-8 p.m, Hilton Waikoloa Village
• $45 presale through Thursday, Sept. 25, $60 on the event day
• http://www.tasteofthehawaiianrange.com/

UH Master Gardener Statewide Conference

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

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.

Mahi'Ai Match-Up 2015: Agricultural Business Plan Contest

In an effort to connect local farmers with Kamehameha Schools' agricultural lands, Kamehameha Schools and Ke Ali'i Pauahi Foundation are proud to announce the second Mahiʻai Match-Up agricultural business plan contest.The competition aligns directly with Kamehameha's Strategic Agricultural Plan and its efforts to increase food production for the local market.

• July 1, 2014: Registration opens
• Aug. 15, 2014: Registration & business plan summary deadline
• Sept. 30, 2014: First round finalists notified

For More Information:  http://www.pauahi.org/mahiaimatchup/ 

Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP)

The 2014 Farm Bill reauthorized Reimbursement Transportation Cost Payment Program (RTCP) for fiscal year 2014, which offsets a portion of the costs of transporting agricultural products over long distances. The program allows farmers and ranchers in Alaska, Hawaii and insular areas including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands of the United States, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau, to recover any transportation costs.

• RTCP enrollments for fiscal year 2014 will begin on July 21, 2014, and end on Sept. 8, 2014.
• Applicants must submit their application to their administrative county FSA office by Sept. 8, 2014.
• Applicants will have until Nov. 3, 2014, to provide supporting documentation.

For more information on the RTCP program, farmers and ranchers in the eligible areas can visit their administrative FSA county office or the FSA website.

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.

Learn the basics of engine and automobile mechanics; it's more important to have mechanic friends than farmer friends.

Sustainable and Organic Program

NOP Organic Insider