CTAHR eXchange

Organic Certification Cost Sharing Program Renewed

VincentD — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:56:00 GMT

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture has announced through a September 30, 2009 press release that the Cost Sharing Program for Organic Certification has been renewed. Federal funds have been renewed to assist Hawaii organic farmers, organic livestock producers and organic produce handlers with the cost of obtaining organic certification. Through cooperative agreements between HDOA and USDA, federal funds will be made available to assist in obtaining organic certification. The Hawaii Organic Farmers...(read more)

Waimanalo Field Day

VincentD — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:23:00 GMT

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) hosted a field day at its Waimanalo Experiment Station on September 26, 2009. Mr. Ray Uchida, Oahu County Administrator and Mr. Roger Corrales, Waimanalo Station Farm Manager were our hosts. The Field Day featured mostly faculty and staff from the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences (TPSS). Dr. Jim Brewbaker of TPSS is our corn breeder and much of the field day acreage was devoted to sharing information about various sweet...(read more)

Know your farmer, know your food!

VincentD — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:52:00 GMT

USDA has released a new web site in support of local farmers! American farmers feed our nation and the world, but they are all local to somewhere. Get to know your local farmer, and get to know your food. USDA wants to foster the viability and growth of small and mid-size farms and ranches, and we want to create new opportunities for farmers and ranchers by promoting locally produced foods. We also want to build the infrastructure necessary to support a local food system, and we'll need local...(read more)

July - August 2009 CTAHR Research News

VincentD — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:22:00 GMT

The CTAHR Research News is back for the 2009-2010 Academic Year. The July - August 2009 CTAHR Research News is now available for download. This month we feature, Dr. H.C. "Skip" Bittenbender from the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences. Dr. Bittenbender is an extension specialist working unique tropical crops, coffee, kava, and cacao. We also feature a story about a lesser known part of CTAHR, the 4-H livestock program . We also feature a story from Lisa Matsunaga of the UH Office...(read more)

The Omnivore's Delusion and Food, Inc.

VincentD — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:59:00 GMT

In keeping with the point-counter point, we have two different points of view about modern agriculture. The first is Blake Hurst piece, " The Omnivore's Delusion: Against the Agri-intellectuals ." Published on July 30, 2009 in the "The American", the Journal of the American Enterprise Institute. Good reading. For another opinion, opening this week in the latest anti-conventional agriculture, anti-food industry documentary " Food, Inc ." A scathing attack on modern...(read more)

Come to the Hawaii State Farm Fair - July 18,19, 2009

VincentD — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:52:00 GMT

Come to the 37 th Annual Hawaii State Farm Fair Saturday, July 18, 2009 – 9 am – 8 pm Sunday, July 19, 2009 – 9 am – 5 pm Bishop Museum Admission: $5 adults; $3 children (4-12 years old); Free Admission for Bishop Museum and HFBF members plus up to 3 guests. For more information see the Hawaii Farm Bureau Farm Fair Web Page . Parking: Free Parking at Bishop Museum, Kapalama Elementary School, Damien High School and Kalakaua Middle School · 4-H Livestock Exhibit, Show and Auction . · Farmers Market...(read more)

Vegetable Gardening at the Oahu Urban Garden Center -- July 11, 2009

VincentD — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:04:00 GMT

Vegetable Gardening Saturday, July 11, 2009 from 9:00 – 12:00 noon Mini plant sale with UH vegetable seeds starters. Learn about resources from the University of Hawaii to help you start and maintain your vegetable garden. See vegetables growing at the Urban Garden Center. O’ahu Master Gardeners available for plant questions. See free UH publications on Home Garden Vegetables and other topics by clicking on the link below: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ctahr2001/PIO/FreePubs.asp Free and open to the...(read more)

May-June CTAHR Research News

VincentD — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:38:00 GMT

The May-June 2009 CTAHR Research News is ready for download. We feature this month, Dr. Dulal Borthakur of CTAHR's Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering . One of the areas of research that Dr. Borthakur's lab emphasizes is the "rhizosphere", those nodules that fix nitrogen into the soil found on the roots of nitrogen fixing trees. These are particularly important to Hawaii because the important tree - Acacia koa is a nitrogen fixing tree. Also this month is the...(read more)

Second Saturday at the Urban Garden Center - UH Vegetable Seeds

VincentD — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:53:00 GMT

Second Saturday at the Urban Garden Center University of Hawaii Vegetable Seeds Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. Join us on Saturday, June 13, 2009 for the Second Saturday at the Garden. This month, the Urban Garden Center will feature information about vegetable seeds. Many of us are tearing out part of our yard and planting small urban gardens to grow fresh produce for our families and neighbors. But where to find seed? Join us at the Urban Garden Center for information about seed...(read more)

New Farmer's Market in Honolulu, Grand Opening, June 3, 2009

VincentD — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:04:00 GMT

Honolulu Farmers’ Market Blaisdell Center Kapiolani-Ward Parking Lot Every Wednesday OPENING JUNE 3, 4:00 - 7:00 pm Join us for the newest HFBF Farmer's Market! Don't go to the supermarket for your produce! Head to the SUPER Farmer's Market for your produce and local products....(read more)

Hawaii Island Homegrown: Food Self Reliance Workshop - June 6, 2009

VincentD — Mon, 18 May 2009 23:33:00 GMT

A workshop on improving Hawaii Island's local food culture and agriculture will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2009 at the Ocean View Community Center in Ocean View. From the brochure: Hawai‘i Island Homegrown: Food Self-Reliance Workshop Ocean View Community Center, Ocean View Saturday, June 6, 2009, 8:30 am–5:00 pm With more than 85% of our food imported from off-island, many Hawai‘i Island residents are concerned about our community’s food security. This workshop will empower you to reduce your...(read more)

New USDA Organic Initiative

VincentD — Fri, 08 May 2009 20:35:00 GMT

USDA announces new initiative in support of organic agriculture via the USDA NRCS EQIP program . The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition has additional information about this program. Contact your the Pacific Islands NRCS Office for more information. For organic certification information in Hawaii, contact Hawaii Organic Farmers Association . See previous post in Sustainable Agriculture regarding organic certification. From the Organic Farming Research Foundation : USDA Announces $50 million...(read more)

April 2009 CTAHR Research News

VincentD — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:06:00 GMT

The April 2009 CTAHR Research News is ready to download. This month we feature Dr. Tomoaki Miura of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management . Dr. Miura's Laboratory for Geospatial Analysis and Remote Sensing uses remote sensing and GIS technologies to address environmental and natural resource management issues. Whether it attempting to determine the electromagnetic signature of the invasive fireweed in Hawaii pastureland, or the seasonal variation in cloud cover in our...(read more)

Western SARE Sub Regional Stakeholder Input - now online / New RFAs released

VincentD — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:41:00 GMT

Back in September 2008, the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) held a "subregional" conference in Kailua-Kona. The results of the meeting was first reported in an earlier edition of Sustainable Agriculture blog . To celebrate the 20th year of the SARE program, the Western SARE have held or will hold a series of Subregional conferences to gather stakeholder input to help set the direction for the next 20 years of WSARE. All of the subregional conferences have now...(read more)

2009 Stockman's Spring Field Day

VincentD — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:38:00 GMT

Dr. Mark Thorne, CTAHR's Range Extension Specialist announces his 2009 Stockman's Spring Field Day. The program will be held on three islands, starting on Kauai (Kauai Community College) on April 20-21, 2009; on Maui (Kula Community Center) on April 22-23, 2009 and the Island of Hawaii (Waimea Civic Center) on April 24-25, 2009. The program includes an evening workshop (4:00 pm - 8:30 pm) on the first and producer/pasture visits on the second day. This year the program will feature Dr. Scott...(read more)

March 2009 CTAHR Research News

VincentD — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:13:00 GMT

The March 2009 CTAHR Research News is ready for download. This month we feature the work of plant pathologist, Dr. Janice Uchida of the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences . Dr. Uchida and her team can not rest - too many fungal diseases affecting too many important plant species in Hawaii. Most recently, Dr. Uchida is dividing her time between 'ohia rust, Puccinia psidii , a new invasive fungal disease that is threatening Hawaii's native 'ohia trees; fusarium disease...(read more)

White House plants a vegetable garden

VincentD — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:53:00 GMT

After President Obama was elected, and even before, the magnitude of the recession became apparent, there was a push from community food activists to plant a "Victory Garden" on the South Lawn of the White House. Led by Roger Doiron, founder of the Kitchen Gardeners International , a Maine non-profit to encourage home gardening, a petition drive was started, through the " Eat the View " campaign that gathered over 100,000 signatures using Facebook and other social networks to...(read more)

Tomorrow's Table presentation at CTAHR Web Site

VincentD — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:36:00 GMT

You may have missed the lecture by Raoul Adamchak and Pamela Ronald, the authors of Tomorrow's Table on UH-Manoa on February 5, 2009. The presentation was recorded and is now available on streaming video. Go to the CTAHR Web Site , on the right hand column - look for "What's New" - and click on the top link "Feb. 5, 2009 Tomorrow's Table". If you have Real Player (R) on your computer, it will start automatically. If you don't have Real Player (R) on your computer...(read more)

New USDA Funding Opportunities - Beginning Farmer Grants and Farmers Market Promotion Program

VincentD — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:18:00 GMT

USDA CSREES has released the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program competitive grants program. Proposals are due May 13, 2009 . Download the request for applications . There is a 25% cost share required for this program. From the RFA: CSREES announces the availability of funds and requests applications for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) for fiscal year (FY) 2009. The BFRDP provides resources to support the development of education, outreach, curricula, workshops...(read more)

CTAHR releases Taro Background Paper

VincentD — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:57:00 GMT

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has released a March, 2009 working paper entitled " Taro and CTAHR ." Available on-line, it covers the role of CTAHR in support of Hawaii's taro growers Quoting from the overview: O ver the past century, personnel associated with the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and its predecessor institutions have done many types of research with taro ( Colocasia esculenta ). Efforts have included work on disease...(read more)

February 2009 CTAHR Research News

VincentD — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:38:00 GMT

The February 2009 CTAHR Research News is ready to download. Join us to learn about one of our newest faculty members, Dr. Yong Li of the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences. Dr. Li is a food microbiologist has is working on a variety of projects - from finding quick and efficient methods to identify pathogenic food bacteria - to determining the good "bugs" found in native products such as kava and kalo. We also feature a thought provoking piece by CTAHR's corn breeder...(read more)

Integrated Pest Management at Home??? What a Concept!!

VincentD — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 23:10:00 GMT

Certified Master Gardeners, Brian and Imelda Cyr, will demonstrate practical environmentally sound pest control options for the home gardener. Join us at the Oahu Urban Garden Center on Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 9:00 am until 12:00 noon. For more information see the Oahu Urban Garden Center....(read more)

Coming Soon - Sunday Farmer's Market in Hale'iwa town.

VincentD — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:31:00 GMT

Save the date - Sunday, April 5, 2009 - a new Farmer's Market begins in historic Hale'iwa town. Come and get farm fresh produce and other locally products....(read more)

Governor Linda Lingle Proposes Initiatives to Improve Food Self-Sufficiency.

VincentD — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 22:37:00 GMT

Governor Linda Linda speaking at the 5th Anniversary of the KCC Saturday Farmer's Market. Hawaii's Governor Linda Lingle in her 2009 State of the State address to the people of Hawaii shared her Administration's plan to achieve greater food self-sufficiency . Among the concerns raised (from a December 16, 2008 Hawaii Department of Agriculture White Paper entitled "Food Self-Sufficiency in Hawaii": "There can be no local food without local farms. Increased food self-sufficiency...(read more)

January 2009 CTAHR Research News

VincentD — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:38:00 GMT

The January 2009 CTAHR Research News is now available for download. As we begin our 5th edition of the CTAHR Research News, we feature scientists in CTAHR involved in "sustainability" across various disciplines in CTAHR. Our cover story is about Dr. Ted Radovich of the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences . Ted has woven an excellent story about his lab's research and educational activities in cropping systems and improving soil fertility. Dr. Radovich is also the primary advisor to...(read more)