The Independent Voice
“Best Agricultural Newsletter in Hawaii” Newsletter of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association April 2021 PO Box 5436 Kailua Kona Hawaii 96745 USA www.konacoffeefarmers.org info@konacoffeefarmers.org Contents Legislative Update Status of Priaxor – Systemic Fungicide for CLR CLR Systemic Fungicide Webinar CLR Quarantine Expanded to O`ahu and Lana`i Expo 2021 Coffee Jokes USDA Expands Pandemic Assistance Program Agribusiness Guidebook: Agri-Tourism Recipe: Macadamia Crusted Baked Fish Editor – Clare Wilson
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Tree ferns ready to unfurl. Photo by C.B.Smith
Legislative Update
Thank you to all KCFA members and supporters for written testimony and (for the first time this year) live Zoom testimony to Senate and House committee hearings on coffee-related bills and resolutions.
As anticipated, this has been a difficult year with the retirement from the Legislature of the two strongest supporters of Hawaii coffee farmers—Rep. Richard Creagan who for 6 years had been chair of the House Agriculture Committee and Sen. Russell Ruderman, Vice Chair of the Senate Agriculture & Environment Committee.
Here is the status of this Session’s coffee-related measures:
51% Minimum for Blends: HB461, the House bill drafted by Kona Reps. Lowen and Kapela, died when the House Economic Development Committee failed to schedule a hearing. SB130, the Senate bill introduced by Kona Sen. Kanuha, died when the Senate Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee “deferred” the bill.
Subsidies for CBB and CLR: Of the five bills introduced to extend the state’s subsidy program for combatting CBB and to add subsidies for treating CLR, only SB855 is still alive. That bill has passed through the Senate and was passed by the House Agriculture Committee on March 16. However, more than 10 days later, the next House Committee (Finance) has not scheduled the bill for a hearing—a requirement for consideration of the bill by the full House.
Senate Resolution on Protections Against Invasives: A bright spot has been Hawaii Island Senator Laura Acasio’s introduction of companion resolutions SCR258/SR271. The title of the Resolutions is “Urging the Department of Agriculture to identify how Coffee Berry Borer and Coffee Leaf Rust entered into Hawaii and measures to prevent the flow of these invasive species into the state to protect the ongoing viability of Hawaii’s coffee industry”. Hawaii’s system for preventing the introduction pests and diseases has failed coffee farmers twice in the last decade. The resolutions ask the HDOA to determine why the system failed and fix the causes of the CBB and CLR failures. On March 17 the Senate Agriculture & Environment Committee passed the resolutions. They go next to the full Senate. –Submitted by the Legislative Committee
Status of Priaxor – Systemic Fungicide for CLR
Mention of this chemical does not constitute endorsement by KCFA. Please read the label to determine if Priaxor fits within your farm management plan. Priaxor cannot be used on organic farms without certifier consultation.
On March 16, HDOA submitted an Emergency Use request to USEPA for Priaxor, a systemic fungicide that penetrates the leaf to control Coffee Leaf Rust inside the plant. The EPA has 45 days to review the application and it is expected that the fungicide will be available to use in early May. While not labeled by the EPA for specific use on coffee plants, Priaxor is currently allowed for use to control fungi on leafy vegetables, strawberries, tomatoes, soybeans, wheat and many other crops. If the exemption is approved, the fungicide may be used for up to one year or until use on coffee plants is added to the product label by EPA and the product’s producer.
When the approval is granted by EPA, the Department will notify the coffee organizations and allow the sale of Priaxor for coffee. KCFA has been informed through the weekly CLR meetings that vendors have made orders to bring in enough Priaxor to cover the entire state’s acreage so supply will not be an issue. This fungicide can only be sprayed twice in a calendar year and it is vitally important that all growers rotate various fungicide products so CLR does not become resistant to any specific product. In the meantime, it is equally important to fertilize, control weeds and thin out your shade trees to minimize CLR on your farm.
To read the full HDOA release:https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr21-07-requesttoepa-clr/ Submitted by the KCFA Protection Committee
Important Webinar – CLR Systemic Fungicide
CLR Quarantine Expanded to O`ahu and Lana`i
https://www.comunicaffe.com/hawaii-board-of-agriculture-expands-coffee-quarantine-to-oahu-and-lanai/
“Hawai`i Board of Agriculture expands coffee quarantine for CLR to O`ahu and Lana`i” HONOLULU, Hawai`I, U.S. – The Hawai`i Board of Agriculture (Board) today approved the expansion of coffee quarantine areas to include the islands of O`ahu and Lana`i due to the coffee leaf rust (CLR), a fungus that threatens Hawai`i’s important coffee industry. CLR was first detected in the state in October 2020 on Hawai`i Island and Maui. In November 2020, Hawai`i Island and Maui were designated by the Board as CLR-infested areas under Plant Quarantine Interim Rule 20-1 which restricted the movement of coffee plants, plant parts and other CLR hosts from those infected islands…” –Submitted by Cecelia Smith
Expo 2021 is Back on Track
As you know we’ve rescheduled our 13th (almost) Annual Kona Coffee and Small Farms Expo for Sunday, June 13, 2021 from 10am to 4pm and have confirmed our reservation for the Honaunau Rodeo Grounds and Pavilion on that day. Our last potential hurdle is whether Hawai’i County will begin granting permits by that time.
We are planning an event that will follow whatever Covid requirements may still be in effect on June 13th as well as expanded use of Zoom and other media such as YouTube videos to make our Expo even more accessible to all folks on the Big Island who are interested in Kona Coffee, small farms and food security.
To refresh our memory, please enjoy excerpts from this article published in the newsletter last June:
‘In view of the reality of life during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, we are considering the theme of “Increased Community Resilience” on the Big Island as a driving principle for the event. Our original intention for the 2020 EXPO is still important and we remain excited about expanding the scope of the Expo to include networking and providing resources that address the concerns of all Small Farmers here in Kona.
‘At this new outdoors location we can schedule multiple events including tabling and affinity group conversations in the pavilion, space for a large number of vendor/presenter tents, food vendors and speakers in the bleacher space.’
Please help us out. Volunteer to help us plan and/or help out on the day of the Expo. We are actively soliciting sponsors, vendors and presenters for Expo right now. If you have any ideas for subject areas or people or organizations you’re involved with or who you think we should include, please pass the information on to me at chet@cassandrafarms.com.
Please visit our Expo website at https://konaexpo.com/. You can view a video on the main page that will introduce you to our new Expo location. –Submitted by Chet Gardiner
Coffee Jokes
A man went to his psychiatrist and complained that every time he drank a cup of coffee he got a pain in his right eye. The psychiatrist said ” Well, have you tried taking the spoon out?”
What is the opposite of coffee? Sneezy.
Why did the coffee taste like mud? Because it was ground just a couple of minutes ago. –Submitted by Kay Dixon
USDA Reopens Pandemic Assistance Program After identifying gaps in previous aid, the program will reopen to distribute resources more equitably.
WASHINGTON, March 24, 2021 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. The new initiative—USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers—will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. USDA is dedicating at least $6 billion toward the new programs. The Department will also develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, timber harvesters, as well as provide support for the food supply chain and producers of renewable fuel, among others. Existing programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will fall within the new initiative and, where statutory authority allows, will be refined to better address the needs of producers. Learn More –Submitted by Suzanne Shriner
Agribusiness Guidebook
Starting an Agri-Tourism Operation Are you interested in starting or enhancing your agri-tourism business as a way to drive sales? The Hawaii AgriBusiness Guidebook: Starting an Agri-Tourism Operation can help you get started! The guidebook was designed to provide aspiring agri-tourism businesses an overview of essential training information, as well as share helpful tips for farmers. https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/6899/agritourism-agribusiness-guidebook-3921.pdf The guide will link you up with the Hawaiʻi Farm Trails Agri-Tourism App, a free, mobile listing that features local websites to be used as a resource for travelers and a place to list Hawai’i’s agri-tourism venues. –Submitted by Suzanne Shriner
Recipe: Macadamia Crusted Baked Fish
1 cup all-purpose flour 2 eggs 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper ¾ cup roasted, finely chopped macadamia nuts 1 pound fresh white fish, cut into 4-ounce fillets (ono, mahi mahi, kampachi) 2 ounces butter (melted)
Heat the oven to 375 F. Lightly grease a baking sheet.
Place the flour in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, beat the eggs with the cayenne pepper. Place the chopped macadamia nuts in a third shallow bowl.
Dredge the fillets in the flour, shaking off any excess. Dip them in the egg mixture and then dredge them in the ground nuts, covering them completely.
Place the fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle each fillet with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter.
Bake in the center of the oven until just done, 10 to 15 minutes. (Test the edge of one of the fillets for doneness by probing it gently with the tines of a fork; if the flesh flakes easily, it is done.)
–Submitted by Clare Wilson
Recipes Wanted! If any of you have coffee recipes that you would like to share, please submit them to the editor: clarewilson98@gmail.com
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! >> Write to us. We welcome Letters to the Editor up to 150 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name and email address >> Email: info@KonaCoffeeFarmers.org with SUBJECT: Commentary.
