Coffee Farm Things To Do – Dec to Feb Are you finished or nearly done harvesting for the season with very little fruit remaining on the tree? Strip pick all remaining green to ripe and raisined berries from the branches and process or destroy this coffee to kill CBB and remove homes where they will continue…
Hawaii County Real Property Tax Dedicated Agriculture Application Due 9/1/25 Most active coffee or diversified ag farms will likely qualify for the 10 year Ag Dedication as an “Orchard”. It’s the cheapest tax rate and you will qualify if you exceed $2,000 in annual farm income and/or meet other baseline standards. To double check, you…
From Flower to Fruit: Optimizing Coffee Tree Nutrition and Soil Health As Kona coffee farmers know well, the journey from flowering to cherry harvest is a delicate dance of biology, climate, and care. Nutrition plays a leading role in this process—not only in supporting fruit development, but also in sustaining long-term tree health and productivity.…
Farms with a distinct harvest season: Note your first flowering on a calendar as other activities such as BotaniGard applications and the early season removal of CBB-infested coffee are timed from the first bloom. During the winter through late spring months, coffee flowers bloom about 8-10 days after rain or heavy irrigation preceded by a (slight…
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…
click for all info>>CBB and CLR Conference
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
Beauveria Subsidy Save your receipts! The Hawaii Department of Agriculture CBB Subsidy Program will reimburse a percentage of the cost for Botanigard and Mycotrol products, once the application process is completed. The program is in effect through 6/30/2020. Farm TMK and other relevant information is required. Costs are reimbursed up to $600 per acre per year, and…
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FARMERS! PBARC (Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center) has released a study on CBB in coffee raisins that is timely for our harvests, and confirms suspicions that raisins on the ground are a significant contributor in season-to-season infestation percentages. The study highlights the importance of good harvest sanitation in reducing next year’s CBB…
click>>> to view complete letter here: Producer Cover Letter from Diane L Ley Director, Research and Development County of Hawaii
FROM: H.C. “Skip” Bittenbender, Ph.D., Extension Specialist for Coffee, Kava and Cacao, Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences CTAHR- College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources ,University of Hawaii at Manoa “This year the survey was sent out by Gwen Hicks (HDOA) as part of the HDOA’s Beauvaria bassiana subsidy project. We- Andrea Kawabata, Stuart Nakamoto, Rob Curtiss,…
Is now available on the right hand side of this HOME page as the “Featured Video”, thanks to Chet Gardiner!
from your Kona Coffee Farmers Association Immigration Enforcement and You Your workers have rights too. The large majority of our year-round workers are documented (90% by estimates from local experts in this issue), however, the effects of a raid are chilling on our workforce, regardless of status. As employers, we should know what their rights…
(Please note the file below is 1.4 MB and will take time to download) click to view>>> 2016 CBB IPM Document Sent to Organizations
HDOA CBB Pesticide Subsidy for purchases of Beauvaria bassiana (Botanigard and Mycotrol) made between 7/1/2015 & 6/30/2016
From KCFA’s Pest and Disease Committee Have you ever brought in green coffee from outside the Big Island? Did you know there are strict rules on the importation of green coffee? Recently, a shipping box from a mainland green coffee retailer was spotted at the post office. Could this put us all at risk, again?…
click to view>>>>Comparison 2015 vs 2014 v 160122
Best Practice for 100% Kona Coffee Farmers. OMRI is placing one of the inert compounds in Mycotrol O on the “Prohibited” list. On or about August 28th, all organic certifiers will be notified that Mycotrol is delisted and is no longer acceptable for organic application. Be warned that if Mycotrol shows up on your spray…
The latest recommendation of the KCFA with Suzanne Shriner’s good help 3 pages and click to view KCFA_IPM July 2014
Coffee Growers and Roasters in Hawaii: SUBJECT: Notice of Board of Agriculture Designation of Island of Oahu as Expanded Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei, Infested Area Subject to Quarantine Restrictions to Prevent Movement of the Coffee Berry Borer, Coffee Plants and Plant Parts, Unroasted Coffee Beans, Used Coffee Bags, and Coffee Harvesting Equipment, to Prevent…
as promised in the February 2015 edition of “The Independent Voice”- here is the presentation
click to view>>>> CBB and Cathartus
CAUTION: Pyronyl is a broad spectrum insecticide which will also kill beneficial insects. Read cautionary statements on container and follow product recommendations. Pyronyl tests show compatibility with Botanigard Bioworks, the maker of Botanigard, has completed a series of tank mix tests with Pyronyl and Botanigard. The good news is that the two can be…
Re: the KCFA’S B.bassiana HDOA Grant This morning (6/20/14) we were told that we have one final document to sign and have notarized for the Grant. Though the project is not yet able to move forward, it looks like we will have go ahead by about June 25 (the legal deadline is next week). Despite…
May 12, 2014 Press Release from the KCFA The Grant proposal With the title “Effective CBB Containment Tools into the Hands of Effective Users” has been selected by the HDOA (Hawaii Department of Agriculture) for funding this year. (ed.note: We have given the Grant the working title of KCFA/Bb Grant) KCFA is pleased to announce the…
What you need to know as a Kona Coffee Farmer! click here> KCFA_IPM 2014
David Case’s reports for the February 18th BOD Meeting are below. KCFA CBB TASK FORCE & HFUU REPORTS 2-16-2014 1A – CBB TF CORRECTED 2013-2015 BUDGET & 2013 BALANCE SHEET FINAL 2-17-2014
(click to open) Latino Workforce Questionnaire_Guevarra.doc Please direct all questions and send your survey results to: rpguevarra@gmail.com Thank you for your kokua!
So, you think your CBB trap is full of CBB? Well, think again! Even with magnification, distinguishing CBB (Coffee Berry Borer) from BTB (Black Twig Borer), and even TNB (Tropical Nut Borer) is difficult. A standard low-power microscope (2-3x) is not sufficient to determine whether the hairs on the back of your beetle are short…
Click IP-31 to see the publication dated 6.10.13. Suzanne Shriner, KCFA Member, was an integral part of this effort. From CTAHR: Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to helping the coffee growers in Hawaii control CBB. We understand that there is great work happening in the lab and fields with researchers and farmers trying…
Thanks to David Case for the photos, 2 taken on August 24 and the next 4 taken on August 25, CBB Workshop field sampling with Columbian scientist, Luis Aristiza’bal at prize winning Kona Kulana Gardens coffee farm teaching CBB field sampling techniques. About 150 Kona and Kau coffee farmers attended thus two day hands on…
from Dr. Aristizabal’s presentation of August 25th, 2012 . Cultural practices and control of CBB. Includes harvest techniques, fungus, milling procedures and other methods of IPM. Cultural & Biological Control of CBB
CBB Biology & Ecology PRESENTATION
from Dr. Luis Aristizabal’s presentation on Friday, August 24th. How to easily and accurately sample and monitor the CBB population on your farm. Includes description of CBB’s position in the bean (AB versus CD) and how to make decisions on spray or treatment from there How to easily and accurately sample and monitor the CBB population on…
A study released on July 11, 2012 regarding “preliminary investigation on trap response and alternate hosts” study of the Coffee Berry Borer is here: https://konacoffeefarmers.org/forums/topic/the-coffee-berry-borer-hypothenemus-hampei-invades-hawaii-preliminary-investigations-on-trap-response-and-alternate-hosts/
From the KCFA’s Pest and Disease Committee CBB is a relatively new bug to Kona, but has been studied extensively for several decades in other regions. While new products come on the market all the time, we recommend farmers investigate the scientific validity of each before investing significant time or money in unproved methods. Proper…
Please post all questions and replies to the Forum- Coffee Bean Borer. April 24, 2012 CTAHR Kainaliu- 3:30- 5 pm- about 60 people in attendance CBB Talk Story w/Bob Smith, Andrea Kawabata, and Suzanne Shriner Smith says need for working entomologist now. Email Russell.s.kokubun@hawaii.gov Kawabata said HDOA has PT data-gathering position listed. Good for college students…
Questions that have been answered by Kona Coffee Farmers Association CBB expert researcher- Suzanne Shriner. (Thank you Suzanne!) 10/03/11 Question: I heard that if the beetle is already in the center bean the fungi can’t get to it. The best time to spray is when the beetle is flying around. Answer by Suzanne Shriner: Last…
Where: Honaunau Mauka– KCFA Farmer-Farm Sprayed once and lots of active natural Fungus present during picking When: September 29, 2011 Pickers started at 8 am and were done by noon. At 3 pm, the farm owner went to look at the bags in her truck and was surprised to see so many ants on the…
These photos show signs of coffee bean borer infestation, the damage they cause inside the cherry, and the effects of B. Bassina. 07/04/11 4/4/2011
by Suzanne Shriner Integrated Pest Managetment Tips PDF/Printable version Coffee Berry Borer (La Broca) damage can be very serious, or it can be reduced to 2-5% of your crop. With a multi-pronged approach to control, you can greatly minimize loss. It is important to “be your own scientist” when it comes to your farm. Inspect…
The Kona Coffee farmer farms under the US Department of Agriculture regulations, paying employees a fair wage, adhering to all the rules & regulations. The Kona Coffee farmer is an independent farmer, paying taxes, health insurance, property insurance etc Land is expensive in Hawaii Fuel and fertilizer etc. must be shipped long distances to get…
The above terms are used in the coffee trade to describe coffees from third-world growing areas where farmers have changed from the old techniques of ” slash and burn” in order to plant coffee, and they are now planting coffee in a more environmentally-aware way, and receiving a fair farm-gate price for their crop. Kona…
Supplies Needed Beforehand Thin wall PVC Pipe, 1.5 inches in diameter, 21-24 inches long Two MacNut Bags (1 used for shoulder harness) Sash Cord for Harness – approximately 3 feet (or more) long Smaller diameter cord for securing PVC to bag – approximately 6 feet and also another 2 feet for securing bag to shoulder…
BEST PRACTICES: COFFEE MUCILAGE by Nancy Griffith (what I have learned as of Oct 18, 2006) After harvesting and removing the skins [pulping] of coffee cherry, the mucilage needs to be removed from the seed. The soft and slippery mucilage is actually the fruit of the coffee, as opposed to the skin and the seed. …
BEST PRACTICES: Small Scale On-Farm Processing by Kenneth Sheppard 1/10/05. The following is my collective wisdom from having processed coffee on this site for about 8 years. Feel free to disagree with or ignore any of it. This workshop is to help facilitate the free exchange of ideas. The Pioneer Farmers got things just about…
BEST PRACTICES: PLANTING PRACTICES PANEL NOTES EMPHASIS ON NEW PLANTINGS Sally Rice: As a “contract coffee farmer,” she works with planting raw land. She uses bulldozers to prepare soil well, she chips organic material, rather than burying it, to avoid pits in a few years when the organic material decays. She fertilizes before she plants…
BEST PRACTICES: ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF COFFEE FARMING ECONOMICS OF COFFEE FARMING USING THE CTAHR SPREAD SHEET click here to access the Coffee Production Analysis Spreadsheet (PDF) Stuart Nakamoto, CTAHR agricultural economist, demonstrated a highly detailed spread sheet (developed by Dr. Kent Fleming) that could help make decisions on whether or not to farm coffee in…
Thanks to KCFA member Keola Childs who taped the last Coffee Talk, Videos are available below: 1–Robert Barnes – Organic fertilizer use and availability for Kona coffee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS7fuGYZaqU 2– Bob Smith – Inorganic Fertilizer use http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFBQWm-aOak 3- Bob Smith’s Shoulder-Bag Fertilizer Spreader http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tucmGHXbNLs 4– Ben Discoe- Using Biochar to enhance, reduce fertilizer needs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42gr_1whjcjc8 Kona…
