OAHUCOOPERATIVEEXTENSIONSERVICEAGRICULTURALUPDATESUNIVERSITYOFHAWAIIATMNOA

COLLEGEOFTROPICALAGRICULTUREANDHUMANRESOURCESFIELDDAY:HAVEACRATEDAY(FLYERATTACHED)Saturday,June27,2015PoamohoResearchStation65620KaukonahuaRoadWaialua,Hawaii(AcrosstheStreetfromtheMainOffice)10:00amto12:00pmPleasejoinDr.KoonHuiWangandmembersofCRATEforaneducationalupdateontheirfieldresearchprojectswhichaddressesagrowinginterestinHawaiiagriculture:Nonchemicalpestmanagementapproaches&utilizationofOSUsCoverCropCalculatorProgram.Topicswillinclude:

VerifyingtheuseofVermicompost(compostfromcompostingworms)induceshostplantresistance Modifyinghotwatersystemsusedinornamentalpestmanagementprogramstoserveasanon

chemicalpestmanagementtoolinvegetableproduction Insectaryplantingtoattractbeneficialinsectsandmulchingtoreducepestpressure Additionofmushroomcompostforsoilhealthmanagement VerificationandapplicationofOSUsCoverCropCalculatorforlocalconditions

VOLUME 15 NO. 6

COVERCROPEVALUATIONWITHHARC&OAHURC&D(ATTACHMENT)Pleasefindattachedanopportunityforgrowerstoparticipateinaprojectevaluatingtheuseofcovercropsandtheirbenefitsofimprovedsoilhealth.OahuRC&DandHARCareseekingfarmstoparticipateina3yearprogramevaluatingtheeconomiccostsandsoilhealthbenefitsofmixedspeciescovercropplantings.Thereisnocosttoparticipate,andfarmsmayreceiveastipendupto$500/acre/yearforarea(s)plantedtocovercrop.Ifyouareinterested,pleasereturntheattachedformand/orcontactjean.brokish@oahurcd.orgorjbarton@harchspa.comformoredetails. AGROFORESTRYWORKSHOPSCreativeAgroforestryWorkshopsforsustainablefoodproducinglandscapesJune2015Workshops:CreativeAgroforestryforfoodproducinghome,farm,andcommunitylandscapesWaipahu,Oahu,June2728

Moreinformation,agendas,andregistrationwww.agroforest.infoThelastthreeweekendsinJune,AgroforestryNetandHawaiiHomegrownFoodNetworkarecollaboratingwithlocalpartnersonMaui(June1213),Kona(June2021),andOahu(June2728)topresentaseriesofworkshopsaboutagroforestry.

Theseinteractiveworkshopswillshowparticipantshowtogrowlongtermplantingsthatcanprovideabundantfoodathome,onfarmsandranches,andincommunitylandscapes.SuchagroforestrylandscapesalsoexemplifythecultureandiconicbeautyofHawaii.Additionally,theworkshopswillshowparticipantshowtouselocalmaterialstoenhancesoilfunction(ratherthanpurchasingimportedfertilizers)andhowtoreducetheuseofpesticidesandherbicides.USDANRCSassistanceprogramsapplicabletoagroforestrywillalsobeexplained.Eachworkshopincludesadayofpresentationsbyeightspeakers,followedbyadayoffieldtoursofexemplaryagroforestrysites.Theworkshopsareforfarmers,landscapers,agriculturalprofessionals,foresters,ranchers,homeowners,agriculturalextension,communityplanners,andeveryoneworkingwithsustainableagriculture,urbanbeautification,naturalresourceconservation,andhumannutrition.Workshopparticipantswillreceiveacopyofthenew320pagebookAgroforestryLandscapesforPacificIslands:CreatingabundantandresilientfoodsystemseditedbyCraigElevitch,dueinprintJuly2015(a$60value).Formoreinformationabouttheworkshopsortoregister,visitwww.agroforest.info.

KAPIOLANICOMMUNITYCOLLEGESVALUEADDEDFOODINNOVATIONPROJECT(ATTACHMENT)

PleasefindattachedtheannouncementfromKapiolaniCommunityCollegeabouttheirFoodInnovationProject.TheprojectisfundedbyaUSDepartmentofLaborgranttocreateapilotfoodprocessingfacility.KCCwantstoofferitsresearchanddevelopmentservicestofarmerswhowanttoproducevalueaddedproducts.TheyareopentoworkingwithfarmersthatwanttoutilizetheirserviceastheyapplyfortheValueaddedproducergrant.Formoreinformation,pleasecontact:

DanielLeungCulinaryArtsDepartmentKapiolaniCommunityCollege4303DiamondHeadRoadHonolulu,HI96816Phone:7349473Fax:7349212REPOSTING:VALUEADDEDPRODUCERGRANTSValueAddedProducerGrantsAvailableforAgProducersHilo,Hawaii,May22,2015StateDirectorChrisJ.Kanazawatodayannouncedthat$30millionavailabletofarmers,ranchersandfoodentrepreneurstodevelopnewproductlines.FundingwillbemadeavailablethroughUSDAsValueAddedProducerGrant(VAPG)program.TheValueAddedProducersGrant(VAPG)programnotonlyenablesfarmersandrancherswithopportunitiestoincreasetheirincomefromtheirfarmingactivities,italsoincreasesjobsandexpandsthefoodchoicesforHawaiisfamiliessaidChrisKanazawa,StateDirectorforUSDARuralDevelopment.HawaiisagriculturecommunityhasdemonstratedalonghistoryofinnovationandtheVAPGprogramprovidesanexcellentresourcetoperpetuatethistradition.USDAplanstomakeapproximately$30millioningrantsavailable.ApplicationswillbeacceptedthroughJuly8,2015.Moreinformationonhowtoapplycanbefoundonpage26528oftheMay8,2015FederalRegister(http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR20150508/pdf/201510440.pdf).VAPGgrantscanbeusedtodevelopnewproductlinesfromrawagriculturalproductsoradditionalusesforalreadydevelopedproductlines.Militaryveteran,sociallydisadvantaged,andbeginningfarmersandranchers;operatorsofsmallandmediumsizedfamilyfarmsandranches;farmerandranchercooperatives;andforapplicantsthatproposemidtiervaluechainprojectsaregivenspecialpriorityinapplyingforVAPGs.Additionalpriorityisgiventogroupapplicantswhoseekfundingforprojectsthatbestcontributetocreatingorincreasingmarketingopportunitiesforthesetypeofoperators.Infiscalyear2013,forexample,KahukuFarmsreceiveda$207,044workingcapitalValueAddedProducerGranttoexpandtheirLilikoi(PassionFruit)ButterandLilikoiJellymarket.

Infiscalyear2014,EmilyTaaroa,dbaPunachicksFarm,receiveda$20,000workingcapitalValueAddedProducerGranttomarketfresh,locallygrownchickenasanalternativetoimportedfactoryfarmproducts.Thegrantfundsexpandsproduction,improvespackaging,anddevelopsbetterdeliveryofgoodstorestaurants,storesandindividualconsumersthroughoutthestateofHawaii.

FormoreinformationontheVAPGprogram,pleasecontactoneofthefollowingBusinessProgramsSpecialist:ShirleyHeatherlyat(808)5412600,ext.139orshirley.heatherly@hi.usda.govforOahu,Kauai;andAmericanSamoa,LoriNekobaat(808)9338312orlori.nekoba@hi.usda.govforMauiandHawaiiCountyAnthonyBarcinasat(671)3008567oranthony.barcinas@pb.usda.govforWesternPacific

PresidentObamasplanforruralAmericahasbroughtabouthistoricinvestmentandresultedinstrongerruralcommunities.UnderthePresidentsleadership,theseinvestmentsinhousing,communityfacilities,businessesandinfrastructurehaveempoweredruralAmericatocontinueleadingthewaystrengtheningAmericaseconomy,smalltownsandruralcommunities.

USDAisanequalopportunityproviderandemployer.Tofileacomplaintofdiscrimination,write:USDA,OfficeoftheAssistantSecretaryforCivilRights,OfficeofAdjudication,1400IndependenceAve.,SW,Washington,DC202509410orcall(866)6329992(TollfreeCustomerService),(800)8778339(LocalorFederalrelay),(866)3778642(Relayvoiceusers)

BEEREADYTOCELEBRATE(CTAHRNOTES)June15toJune21hasbeendesignatedasPollinatorWeek,Hawaiisfourthannualcelebrationoftheevent.Thisyear,theUHHoneybeeProjectwillsetupaboothforapublicexhibitonJune20thattheHonoluluZoogrounds.ApiculturespecialistEthelVillalobos(PEPS)willcoordinatewithWillHainesandJasonGraham(bothPEPS)andHDOAStateApiaristDanielleDowney.Jasonworkswithnativeyellowfacedbees,hopingtohelpkeepthemfromdeclining.AssociateDeanCharlesKinoshitawillhelptofundthedisplays,whichwilleducatevisitorsabouttheessentialnatureofpollinators,includingbees,inmaintainingourfoodsupplyandourecosystems.CTAHRwillalsobeorganizingagriculturalprofessionaleducationalworkshopsacrossthestateincelebrationofourvaluablepollinators.

JARISUGANO/JENSENUYEDAOAHUAGRICULTURALCOOPERATIVEEXTENSIONAGENTS

COLLEGEOFTROPICALAGRICULTUREANDHUMANRESOURCESUNIVERSITYOFHAWAIIATMNOA

WAHIAWAEXTENSIONOFFICE910CALIFORNIAAVENUEWAHIAWAHI96786

www.ctahr.hawaii.eduPHONE:8086224185

FAX:6211912

Center for Rural Agricultural Training and Entrepreneurship (CRATE), Western IPM & USDA NIFA

HAVE A CRATE DAY Saturday, June 27, 2015

Poamoho Research Station 65-620 Kaukonahua Road

Waialua, Hawaii (Across the Street from the Main Office)

10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Please join Dr. Koon Hui Wang and members of CRATE for an educational update on their field research projects which addresses a growing interest in Hawaii agriculture: Non chemical pest management

approaches & utilization of OSUs Cover Crop Calculator Program. Topics will include:

Verifying the use of Vermicompost (compost from composting worms) induces host plant resistance

Modifying hot water systems used in ornamental pest management programs to serve as a non-chemical pest management tool in vegetable production

Insectary planting to attract beneficial insects and mulching to reduce pest pressure Addition of mushroom compost for soil health management Verification and application of OSUs Cover Crop Calculator for local conditions

NonChemicalPestManagement&CoverCropCalculator

For information or to request an auxiliary aid or service (e.g., sign language interpreter, designated parking, or materials in alternate format), contact Jensen Uyeda (juyeda@hawaii.edu) or Jari Sugano (suganoj@ctahr.hawaii.edu) at (808) 622-4185 at least seven days before the activity/event (6/20/15).