Coffee Leaf Rust (Hemileia vastatrix) was officially confirmed by USDA to be on Maui in October 2020 and has tentatively been found on Hawai'i Island.
Coffee Leaf Rust is one of the most devastating pests of coffee plants and is established in all major coffee growing areas if the world, but had not previously been found in Hawai'i until now.
"The Kona Coffee Farmers Association is focused on assisting farmers in learning how to manage this new threat to our livelihood. By coordinating with local, state, national and international groups, KCFA seeks to provide accurate information to our membership, so that farmers can take this as foundation and use it to learn with neighbors about best steps to take. That way we can all work together to deal with this pest, which moves fast and which no one has managed before in Hawaii. As a group and as a team of fellow coffee farmers, KCFA members can work together on best management strategies to continue forth successfully." --Colehour Bondera, KCFA President
Dear Coffee Farmers and Friends, The Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR), Hemileia vastratix was officially reported here in Hawaii during this week. This is a new issue that is expecting to affect the coffee industry in Hawaii. The best strategy for control is by planting coffee plants resistant to CLR. However, right now we do not…
The dreaded moment has arrived. Coffee Leaf Rust (CLR) has arrived to our islands. At this time, it’s been found in multiple coffee farms and feral gulches across Maui. It has been spotted in Hilo here on the Big Island. Now is the time to educate yourself on what the distinctive orange spores look like.…
We need potential new Board members to step up and work together to better understand how our trees are affected, and what to do in preparation and what to do if we have infections of CLR. If you have any interest in team work and have skills in agricultural research, pathology, entomology, agricultural systems, information…
With the recent discovery of Coffee Leaf Rust on Maui, growers are encouraged to take a close look at USDA’s Risk Management Agency crop insurance program for Coffee Trees. The tree insurance policy includes coverage for trees lost due to disease when proper control measures are used, as a covered peril. Growers would need to…
HONOLULU – Coffee leaf rust (CLR) has been confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) from coffee plant samples collected on Maui last week. Also, in response to the detection on Maui, Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) staff began statewide surveys and detected suspect plants at a residence in Hilo on Hawai`i Island…
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) – In an alarming discovery, agriculture officials have confirmed the presence of coffee leaf rust from samples collected on Maui and detected “suspect” samples in Hilo. Read full article: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/10/30/coffee-leaf-rust-detected-hawaii-first-time/ Coffee leaf rust is devastating to coffee plants and has been found around the world in major coffee growing areas. The pest…
A sample of a rust fungus collected at a residence in Hilo has been tentatively identified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service in Hilo as coffee leaf rust (CLR). Read full article: https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2020/10/30/hawaii-news/coffee-leaf-rust-hits-hawaii-island/
TO: Members of the Hawai`i Coffee Industry FROM: Phyllis Shimabukuro-Geiser Chairperson, Board of Agriculture SUBJECT: Coffee Leaf Rust Suspected on Maui Samples of a fungus tentatively identified as coffee leaf rust (CLR) were collected in managed and wild coffee on Maui. If confirmed, this will be the first detection in Hawai`i. Coffee leaf rust…