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HDOA E-NEWS: July 12, 2006
Aloha!
The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is pleased to bring you the July 2006 edition of the HDOA e-newsletter.
Four new state laws contributing to the Lingle administration’s “Energy for Tomorrow” vision are responding to the call for reduced dependence on imported oil and other fossil fuels. Acts 96, 162, 163 and 240 create a framework for energy efficiency in state facilities, vehicles, and equipment; improve the Renewable Portfolio Standards law; appropriate funds to reconvene the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum; and expand renewable energy incentives.
Act 240 contains an appropriation of $150,000 for HDOA to provide assistance to the agricultural community engaged in energy projects, most notably for biodiesel from energy crops and cellulosic ethanol from agricultural waste streams. This trend towards renewable energy presents an important opportunity for the future of agriculture in Hawaii.
Sincerely,
Sandra Lee Kunimoto
Chairperson, Board of Agriculture
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INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS ON HIRING NON-IMMIGRANT/MIGRANT AND SEASONAL AG WORKERS
The recent case of Global Horizons, Inc., a provider of more than 100 temporary migrant agricultural workers in the state, has caused concern for many farms in the state. To help farm operators understand the H2A Agricultural Employment Visa Program and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Workers Protection Act (MSPA), HDOA has partnered with state and federal departments to conduct a series of free informational workshops across the state.
All meeting times are from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.:
Oahu – July 13 (Thurs.) HARC Building, 3rd Floor, Room 301
99-193 Aiea Heights Drive, Aiea
Big Island – July 17 (Mon.) UH-CTAHR Office – Kona
79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway, Kailua-Kona
Maui – July 19 (Wed.) Hawaii Department of Agriculture
635 Mua Street, Kahului
Kauai – July 20 (Thurs.) Hawaii Department of Agriculture
4398-A Pua Loke Street, Lihue
Sponsored by the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and HDOA, the briefings will cover issues such as workers’ compensation, pre-paid health care, joint employment, independent contractors, wages, worker benefits, transportation, housing and enforcement of federal and state basic labor standards in agriculture. To reserve a seat, call Betsy Polhemus at (808) 973-9558 or e-mail: betsy.m.polhemus@hawaii.gov
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SHIPPING CONSOLIDATION CONCERNS
Young Brothers Limited (YB) is proposing to end their less-than-container-load (LCL) service on Maui effective January 2007. This business decision reflects the significant growth in cargo and demand at the Kahului Harbor necessitating more efficiency in operations and use of space at the port. In the future, LCL will also be eliminated at other ports so it's crucial that all parties collaborate to find solutions. YB, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, the Department of Transportation and HDOA are working together and the Maui Farm Bureau has taken the lead in exploring the use of the Kula Vacuum Cooling facility as a possible consolidation site.
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FARMER ASSISTANCE
AGR-Lite Farm Insurance a Step Closer for Hawaii Farmers
Hawaii farmers may soon be able to participate in the USDA farm insurance program, called the Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite (AGR-Lite). The risk management arm of the USDA has granted preliminary approval to expand its program to include Hawaii farmers. A risk assessment must be completed before final approval will be granted by USDA. If all goes as planned, the farm insurance program may be available in early 2007. It is estimated that 95 percent of all farms in Hawaii will qualify for this program, in which the government pays a portion of the premium.
The AGR-Lite is a whole-farm revenue protection plan of insurance, and covers all crops and animal production under one farm policy umbrella with only one set of historical records. The plan provides protection against low revenue due to unavoidable natural disasters and market fluctuations that affect income during the insurance year. Most farm-raised crops, animals (including aquaculture), and animal products are eligible for protection.
To be eligible for AGR-Lite coverage, a producer must:
· Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident;
· File a calendar year or fiscal year farm tax return;
· Have less than $2,051,282 in approved gross income (coverage limited to $1 million);
· Have appropriate IRS tax forms available for the previous five consecutive years under the same tax entity;
· Have no more than 50 percent of total revenue from commodities purchased for resale.
For more details, please go to: http://www.rma.usda.gov/pubs/2003/PAN-1667-07.pdf
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AG CONFERENCE SET FOR OCTOBER
Ag Conference 2006, Maximizing Your Bottom Line has been scheduled for October 26th at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa in Waikiki. The only statewide conference for Hawaii’s agricultural industry is presented by the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation (HFBF), the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and HDOA.
At Ag Conference 2006, attendees will learn to take advantage of opportunities more rapidly, maneuver around obstacles and take decisive action to fulfill personal and company goals.
The Ag Conference is being held in conjunction with the HFBF Annual Convention and other seminars:
October 24 & 25 HFBF Annual Convention
October 26 2006 Agricultural Conference
October 27 Hawaii Tropical Flower Council’s Seminar
October 27 Hawaii Agricultural Bioenergy Workshop
To sign up for any of the four events, go the website at: http://www.agconference.org
Questions may be e-mailed to: info@agconference.org or call 808.947.2914 (Oahu).
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EMERGENCY AGRICULTURAL LOANS
At last count, 53 farmers applied for emergency agricultural loans due to damage caused by the heavy rains in the Spring. So far, 31 loans have been approved, 13 are in progress, five were withdrawn, two referred to federal agencies, and two denied.
For more information, go to the department’s website at: /hdoa/organization/agl/agl
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IRRIGATION SYSTEMS
(Updates from the Agricultural Resource Management Division)
· Continued dry weather has caused low water storage levels at the 60-million-gallon Waimanalo Reservoir on Oahu, necessitating mandatory water conservation measures of 30 percent. As water levels began declining, users of the system went from a 10 percent voluntary cutback to the current mandatory 30 percent cutback. Water users may obtain updated status reports on the HDOA website at: /hdoa/arm/arm_irrigation/arm_waimanalo
· Construction for the Paauilo Distribution Pipeline, Phase II, Paauilo, North Hilo, Hawaii Project has been awarded to Ludwig Construction Inc. Work is anticipated to begin in November of 2007 and be completed within six months thereafter. The $785,000 project will install approximately 4,700 linear feet of 12-inch PVC pipe, including one bridge crossing. Upon completion of this project, the community will have a more reliable source of irrigation water.
· ARMD has awarded M&E Pacific, Inc. a contract for the Hawaii State Irrigation Systems Water Conservation Improvement Study. The DOA is matching the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation’s $50,000 grant. The Study will look to increase efficiencies in delivery of irrigation water and provide recommendations to maximize resources for three irrigation systems (Waimanalo, Waimea, and Kahuku). By maximizing resources, the farming community will have a more reliable source of irrigation water, reduced drought condition restrictions, and increased acreage. Increasing the efficiency of delivery will also reduce the need to divert excess water from natural resources due to spills and leakage, which will decrease the overall impact to the environment.
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ANIMAL DISEASE PREVENTION & SURVEILLANCE
Animal Industry staff
found dead ticks on a horse two days after it was shipped from Florida,
passed thru California, and arrived in Honolulu. Arriving horses
are sprayed upon arrival with insecticide. The ticks were identified by
the HDOA taxonomist as Pacific Coast ticks, which are not known to
occur in Hawaii. Horses in the entire shipment were re-examined
several times and no other horses have been found with the tick.
The tick is not believed to be a vector of serious disease; however, as
a precaution, bedding and areas where the horse is kept were
treated. Three cats originating from Massachusetts entered rabies
quarantine and were found to have suspicious ticks, which were later
identified as the deer tick, not known to occur in Hawaii. The
cats were disinfested and their area treated. Deer ticks may
transmit infectious disease, such as Lyme disease.
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MARKETING
· Hawaii Lodging and Hospitality and Foodservice Expo
Visit the HDOA booths at the Hawaii Lodging, Hospitality and Foodservice Exposition at the Neal Blaisdell Center on July 12 and 13, 2006. HDOA will be in booths 134 & 136 and will feature new local agricultural products such as fresh wasabi, farm-raised kampachi, fresh mushrooms, Hawaiian chocolate and sea asparagus. Chef Grant Sato from the Kapiolani Community College Culinary Arts Program will be preparing delectable samples of these unique items for tasting. This tradeshow is a unique marketing opportunity for new companies to showcase their products to the hospitality industry, one of the state’s largest markets.
· Fukuoka Trade Mission
HDOA’s Market Development Branch co-sponsored a trade mission to Fukuoka, Japan, May 19 – 22, 2006. The trade mission consisted of an official courtesy visit to Fukuoka Governor Wataru Aso and the Fukuoka legislature, a two-day consumer promotion, a Hawaiian papaya promotion, a business tradeshow, and a gala dinner & concert to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the sister/state relationship between Hawaii and Fukuoka prefecture.
Partnering with HDOA on this mission were other state agencies such as the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism and the Oahu Visitor’s Bureau; federal agencies such as the USDA, US Embassy-Tokyo, US Consulates Osaka & Fukuoka, as well as the private sector such as Japan Airlines, Fukuoka Kenjinkai and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce. A total of 27 Hawaii companies were represented at the tradeshow, five of which were Seal of Quality participating companies.
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PESTICIDES PROJECTS
Three contracts were awarded from the Pesticides Revolving Fund:
1) $22,000 to UH CTAHR’s Pesticide risk education program. Provides funds for a newsletter to pesticide applicators, which supports pesticide education classes offered by CTAHR.
2) $105,000 to USDA-Agricultural Research Services (ARS) to conduct research on fruit fly lures, which should result in significant improvements in lures used to attract melon flies.
3) $32,140 to USDA-ARS to determine the virulence of a microorganism in a pesticide product compared with native populations of the same microorganism.
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HIGHLIGHTS IN COMBATING ESTABLISHED PESTS BY ISLAND
(The following is a sampling of recent activities by the Plant Industry Division, Plant Pest Control Branch and Pesticides Branch)
Big Island
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Staff continue to survey areas and garden shops for Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and citrus greening disease (CGD).
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In response to a report by State Rep. Bob Herkes, staff went to Hilo General Lyman Field to check the area for coqui frogs in the airport check in and arrival areas. Three male frogs were captured. PQ will monitor the site.
Oahu
· HDOA Insectary staff continue to receive shipments of field-collected EGW material from UH researchers in West Africa. The collections are being processed in quarantine and observed for emergency of potential bio-control agents, such as parasitic wasps.
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Staff continue to monitor a Waimanalo nursery known to have coqui frogs.
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Oahu Invasive Species Committee requested HDOA’s assistance in gaining access to private property in Kahaluu to survey for miconia. HDOA staff called the developer to arrange access.
Kauai
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Staff continue control efforts for long thorn kiawe at the Mana Drag Strip in Kekaha. They cut an area of 3,600 sq. ft. and treated stumps with herbicide. Two large trees and rooted branches were also cut down.
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Staff continue spraying efforts for coqui frogs at the Lawai site in conjunction with the Kauai Invasive Species Committee (KISC). Staff also applied herbicide to strawberry guava trees to stop them from fruiting and attracting fruit flies for the frogs to consume.
Maui
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Staff participated in a cooperative survey with USDA-APHIS-PPQ personnel for
detection of the ACP, CGD and sudden oak death (SOD). No ACP or evidence of CGD were found. Some plants with suspicious symptoms of SOD were collected and sent to the USDA lab for determination.
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Surveys for banana bunchy top virus continue around the island.
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INTERCEPTIONS BY PLANT QUARANTINE INSPECTORS
(The following is a sampling of recent interceptions by Plant Quarantine Inspectors)
May 28 – A team of Honolulu and Kauai inspectors boarded a cruise ship in Nawiliwili Harbor and confiscated and destroyed 355 cartons containing 1,393 lbs. of restricted produce that did not meet entry requirements.
June 18 – Hilo staff rejected shipment of 25 orchid plants destined for Molokai after inspection found the plants infested with little fire ants. After treatment, the orchid plants were returned to the owner. The plant media was removed and destroyed by freezing.
June 20 – Kona staff confiscated and destroyed two shipments of four lbs. of sage that was found infested with downy mildew. The next day, another shipment of infected sage from the same source was also confiscated and destroyed.
June 21 – Maui staff intercepted a shipment of mangoes that were infested with white mango scale, which is not known to occur in Hawaii. According to shipping documentation the fruit was heat treated prior to entering the U.S. A joint investigation with USDA-APHIS-Surveillance Inspection and Trade Compliance is currently underway.
The Maui Risk Assessment blitz conducted in June rejected 12 lots, 32 parcels approximately 788 lbs of diseased and insect-infested produce and three lots, four parcels containing 60 bunches of cut flowers and foliage which was infested with insects or disease.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
New Association for Organic Farmers
A new professional organic farmers’ association, the Hawaii Cooperative of Organic Farmers (HICOF) is conducting a statewide membership drive. HICOF is the only statewide professional organic farmer’s organization whose business is to improve the business of organic farming in Hawaii. Its missions and objectives are to support, encourage and promote its members’ commodities and to engage in on-farm organic research, marketing initiatives and other activities in direct support of its farmer members. For applications or information on HICOF contact Al Santoro at: asantoro@hawaii.rr.com
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BIOSECURITY GUIDE
USDA has just released a guide entitled “Pre-Harvest Security Guidelines and Checklist for 2006” to help agricultural producers enhance security at the farm level. It contains practical measures that farm operations may utilize to help protect against natural disasters, as well as the unintentional or intentional introduction of plant or animal diseases. The voluntary guidelines and checklists were developed based upon recommendation made by producers throughout the U.S. and include information related to general agriculture, dairy, crops, cattle and poultry security. To download the 20-page publication, go to: http://www.usda.gov/homelandsecurity/
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WORKSHOPS
Free Coqui-fighting Classes Continue on Big Island
Another training class and sprayer demonstration has been slated for Wednesday, July 26th from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Kea’au on the Big Island. The class will be held at the Ola’a Community Center, located at the old Kea’au Middle School and across from Verna’s Drive Inn (the Community Center has a yellow roof.) The series of classes are being conducted by the Coqui Frog Work Group in partnership with the County of Hawaii, HDOA, UH-CTAHR, USDA and Hawaii Island Economic Development Board. The class is free and attendees will receive a voucher for one free 35 lb. bag of hydrated lime from the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board- Coqui Project. To make a reservation, please call Howard Lontoc, County of Hawaii-Coqui Eradication & Control Coordinator at 961-8066.
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UPCOMING AG EVENTS
· The Hawaii State Farm Fair will run for two weekends in Kapolei. July 20-23 and 28-30. The annual fair is fundraiser for the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.
· Made in Hawaii Festival will be held at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall on August 18 – 20. HDOA is coordinating the chef demonstrations, which are always crowd pleasers.
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HDOA PERSONNEL MOVEMENTS
Connie Arruda, secretary at the HDOA Maui Office retired as of June 30.- Dr. Herbert Rebhan, part-time veterinarian on Maui, has resigned and will be moving to South Africa.
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To visit the HDOA website: click here.
For more information, please call (808) 973-9560 or e-mail: hdoa.info@hawaii.gov