Aloha, coffee farmers! In this article, we want to share some information about the life cycle of the Coffee Twig Borer (CTB) and how to manage this pest that can damage your coffee plants. The CTB is a small beetle that belongs to the ambrosia beetle family. It is native to Southeast Asia, but it…
When I first started farming Kona Coffee more than 30 years ago the Black Twig Borer (BTB) was already here. Back then damage was barely noticeable and I considered it a minor threat. In fact, I used to tell other farmers that they didn’t have to worry about the BTB at all. This lack of…
BEST PRACTICES: PRUNING PRACTICES-Notes updated 12/28/2022 (Bob Smith) Pruning is the start of the farming year. Coffee beans form on last year’s growth. Three years growth on the vertical gives the maximum crop. Remove suckers on bent over verticals if using the “Multi-vertical” method. The “Beaumont-Fukunaga” method prunes every third row to the stump, permitting…
Pruning Coffee by Bob Smith WHY: Coffee trees require yearly pruning to remove unproductive branches and to make space for new vigorous growth. Coffee verticals have a growth cycle of 3 years. Maximum production is achieved the 3rd year. Growth thereafter is on a biennial schedule with high yield/low yield in alternating years. Approximately 1/3…
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Recorded by Bob Smith of smithfarms
Mahalo to:: Melissa Johnson, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Researcher Daniel K. Inouye US Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center USDA-Agricultural Research Service click below to read: Gillett et al. 2019