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
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…
Here is a note from Diane Ley of the USDA Farm Service Agency Regarding Farm Damages as Well.“.. .I would ask that the producers contact their local FSA office (www.fsa.usda.gov/internet/FSA_file/hi_cof_staff) early this week to provide a quick summary of the impacts so that the County Emergency Boards and the State Emergency Board can assess the…