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
Email KCFA about Coffee Leaf Rust: info@konacoffeefarmers.org
HDOA's Plant Pest Control Branch - (808) 973-9525
Andrea Kawabata, Associate Extension Agent for Coffee and Orchard Crops
Text: (415) 604-1511 Email: andreak@hawaii.edu