Heavy Afternoon Showers Pelt Kauai And Oahu Over The Weekend
	Weather
Review	
Weather conditions were fair to good for agriculture during the week ending Sunday, September 14. Trade winds conditions continued to blow for most of the week resulting in mostly sunny skies in leeward areas and partly cloudy skies with some light showers for windward areas. But as a high pressure system sitting north of the State began to weaken, trade winds also started to subside. A decrease in average wind speeds was most noticeable for the northern half of the State.  Daytime heating and a trough of low pressure aloft also resulted in some locally heavy showers for Kauai and Oahu over the weekend. Lihue, Kauai recorded a new daily maximum rainfall total of .59 inches on Friday while other parts of Kauai and Oahu received over an inch of rain. The heavy showers slowed farming activities, but helped replenish reservoirs and soil moisture levels. All mandatory and voluntary water conservation measures throughout the State remained in effect.
Hawaii County
Mostly dry weather prevailed in the county after some light, scattered rain fell in windward locations early in the week. These showers that were mostly light did not raise soil moisture significantly. However, the added moisture was helpful in maintaining current crop conditions in non-irrigated fields. Occasional light showers over the Kona slopes also helped maintain crop progress in these locations. The Honokaa area of Hamakua received some brief showers early in the week, but drought conditions there and in Kohala were drying-out pastures and reducing stream flows. Grass growth in many parts of these districts was almost nil, and old feed supplies were low. Water was being hauled to keep cattle adequately hydrated. Irrigated crops in Kohala experienced mild weather with mostly sunny skies and moderate trade winds on most days. Crop progress was normal at most operations. The Kona and Ka`u districts were mostly dry and experienced only brief intermittent showers throughout the week. Hazy skies dominated the leeward coast in the southern part of the island. This part of the island was very dry. 
Maui County
Typical late-summer weather conditions prevailed across the county. Warm daytime temperatures with breezy trade winds carrying light showers over some windward sections of the islands prevailed early in the week. Trade winds became lighter as the week progressed, and afternoon cloud cover increased over the leeward sections of the islands. As a result of the afternoon build-up of clouds, some light rainfall occurred in these areas. Light showers were also noted in the Kula area of Maui Island. By the end of the week, the trade winds were almost non-existent. Light rains also occurred over Moloka`i and Lana`i during the weekend. Despite the reported rainfall throughout Maui County, the overall landscape remained very dry. This was especially true for the leeward and central sections of the islands. County officials were encouraging all users to conserve water usage. Water for irrigation and other agricultural uses continued to be available for farmers.

Honolulu County
Weather conditions were fair for crop progress during the week. A high pressure ridge north of the State brought moderate trade winds to the island early in the week. The system began to weaken as the days passed which caused the trade winds to diminish and variable winds to prevail. Light south to southeasterly winds caused a shift of cloud cover and rains from the windward districts to the leeward crop growing areas of the island. Isolated afternoon cloud bursts slowed farm activities in some leeward and central Oahu fields. Volcanic smoke, or vog, became more prevalent by the weekend as the light southerly winds caused it to linger over the island. Irrigation levels were adjusted at the end of the week because of the rains, but overall usage remained at a heavy level. Pressure from insect infestation was moderate in many fields. A mandatory 30 percent reduction in water use remained in effect for Waimanalo Irrigation System users. 
Kauai County
Variable weather conditions were fair to good for crops during the week. Days were mostly sunny and dry with light, intermittent showers early in the week. Over the weekend, heavy afternoon downpours in south and west crop growing areas interrupted some field activities due to wet and muddy conditions. On the other hand, the rains were welcomed in most orchards and pastures. At the upper elevations, the rains replenished reservoirs needed for crop irrigation. These reservoirs were showing declining levels due to continued use during the previous dry days. Overall, most crops made good progress during the week. Pressure from insect infestation was light to moderate with spraying for control hindered by the weekend rains.

	Agricultural
Highlights	
Fruits
Bananas
On the Big Island, soil moisture remained adequate in east orchards due to light, passing showers occurring throughout the week. Field operations appeared normal. Oahu orchards were in fair condition. Leeward and central Oahu fields made good to fair progress with continued heavy irrigation. Windward Oahu fields were in fair condition. Farmers remained vigilant and under constant pressure to rogue plants to control the spread of the Banana Bunchy Top virus. New banana plantings on Oahu made fair to good progress. Orchards on Kauai were in good to fair condition. The overall development of orchards benefited from showers, however, irrigation levels remained heavy.
Papayas
Papaya orchards in the Big Island’s Puna region received some beneficial rain early in the week. Orchards in the Keaau area showed some general improvement in condition.  Overall, orchards were in fair to good condition. Large fields in Kapoho were in the process of being prepared and replanted. Oahu’s orchards remained in fair to good condition. Spraying to slow the pressure of insect infestation was on a regular schedule. Orchards on Kauai made fair progress during the week and harvesting will remain active.

Vegetables
Chinese Cabbage
Non-irrigated fields on the Big Island continued to benefit from light showers. Insect problems have increased with the dry conditions. Irrigation was heavy in Waimea, and growers there have kept spray activities on a regular schedule. Seedlings showed rapid growth, and quality of harvested heads was mostly good.
Head Cabbage
Big Island farmers were planting and harvesting on a normal schedule during the week. The quality of harvested heads was mostly good. Gentle winds and sunny skies were beneficial to crop progress in fields where irrigation was available. Non-irrigated fields were producing smaller heads, but production was steady. Maui’s crop continued to make steady progress through the warm growing conditions. Producers were closely monitoring their fields to effectively control any insect pressure. Current growing conditions and a very limited number of chemicals to use have challenged farmers. Despite this situation, producers have been able to deliver a relatively steady volume of production. Overall, Maui’s head cabbage crop was in fair condition.
Sweet Corn
Soil moisture in Big Island fields was low, but improved slightly early in the week due to light showers. The relatively dry field conditions facilitated preparation work for future planting. Fields on Oahu remained in fair to good condition with light damage from corn ear worm. Weather conditions were fair for plantings, but planting schedules continued to be altered by water restriction in the affected windward crop growing areas.
Dry Onions
Maui’s dry onion crop was in fair condition. Producers were concentrating on maintaining their fall crop which made steady progress despite the recent warm growing conditions. There were no significant detrimental field conditions reported during the week, although wildlife feeding continued to be a concern. 

Other Crops
Sugarcane
Planting activity was ceased during the week as Kauai’s last commercial sugarcane grower announced the closure of the company with intentions of having the land used for the production of bio-fuel. The crop currently in the field is expected to be harvested within the next 18 to 24 months. Harvesting was interrupted late in the week by muddy field conditions due to afternoon downpours. ■