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
May 31 from 8 am to 1 pm, and June 31 from noon to 4:30 pm
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>>> Â Â 2016 CBB IPM Document Sent to Organizations
KCFA Comments and Suggestions on UH-CTAHR’s 2016 CBB Recommendations From Mike McMullen: Page 1. The first page of the document should be written as an executive summary. It should have an introductory paragraph and then include the specific recommendations to farmers. Page 1 should be able to stand alone and be detached and distributed. Department…
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
 Educational and Interactive Workshop offered February 7, 2015 – Sheraton Keauhou Resort and Spa- Bayview Rooms Morning and Afternoon sessions.  FREE but Reservations are required! complete information is here>  Cathartus Flyer Final
click to view>>>>Â 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…
Click below to read Hawaii Farmers Union United’s report to the Kona Coffee Farmers Associations June KCFA Board Meeting. HFUU JUne Meeting Report to the KCFA cont. HFUU report to KCFA June Meeting
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…
click to view> Â Â Â Â Â 30 Trees Sampling Method DRAFT 061814
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>Â KCFA_IPM 2014
(click to open)    Latino Workforce Questionnaire_Guevarra.doc Please direct all questions and send your survey results to: [email protected] Thank you for your kokua!
This content is only available to Kona Coffee Farmers Association members. Please login or join to view.
So, you think your CBB trap is full of CBB? Well, think again! Even with magnification, distinguishing CBB (Coffee Berry Borer) Â 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…
From KCFA Board Member, Bruce Corker: Sen. Mazie Hirono left a lengthy voice mail message this afternoon (ed.note May 23)–with a follow up email (below) from her Special Projects Director, Patrick Devney. The Senator said that she was calling with “good news” concerning federal funding for CBB research and mitigation in Hawaii. In response to…
An email sent to all active KCFA Members on March 13, 2013 Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Legislative Committee of our Kona Coffee Farmers Association, we have SUCCEEDED! As many are aware, in January Kona Representative Nicole Lowen introduced a very important bill to address our CBB Emergency. Rep. Lowen’s bill (“HB353”) provides for $500,000…
Be prepared, buy your fungus now. From last year’s experience, we know that large quantities of CBB may soon be moving around in the coffee. In early April of 2012, swarms were spotted on many farms. This seemed to coordinate with the return of the rains but we can’t be sure. KCFA recommends that you…
KCFA is part of a group from Kona and all of Hawaii that is requesting Emergency Funding from the White and the US Department of Agriculture for the Coffee Berry Borer pest that is threatening the the growing of coffee in Hawaii. Â The complete text of the letter, sent on February 28th is here:Â CBB Emergency…
Greenwell.EXPO.CBB in KonaGFI_2013 To view the screen presentation that Tom Greenwell gave at the EXPO on January 25, 2013- click above.
Aloha… The link to the 2012 CBB Survey which includes a summary and comparison with 2011 CBB survey results is here- click to view:  CBBComparison survey 2011 vs 2012 dec 1. This an annual survey of CBB- its damage and its management- that Andrea Kawabata, Elsie B Greco, and I developed to monitor the CBB…
Lobate Lac Scale HDOA-Paratachardina pseudolobata NPA Red The host range of lobate lac scale, Paratachardina lobata, in southern Florida, species arranged by plant family.HDOA-LobateLS host list by family2
a CTAHR (2006) Publication- page 2   LFA2 workshop on October 30,2012
a CTAHR (2006) Publication- page one   LFA1 workshop on October 30,2012
This content is only available to Kona Coffee Farmers Association members. Please login or join to view.
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…
Balancing pest risk with cost of control when using Beauveria for CBB June 7 Hollingsworth for KCFA (Click previous to view. Large file) Power Point Presentation given by Dr. Robbie Hollingsworth at the Kona Risk Management School on June 7th, 2012.  Lots of great photos and data. Mahalo to Dr. Hollingsworth and his staff for allowing us to reproduce…
CBB Survey (printable document)          CBB “Talk Story” Survey- Kona Coffee Farmers Association       Please scan completed form to: [email protected] with the subject           line:CBB Survey or bring to CBB Talk Story Session on June 21, Thursday,…
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 [email protected] Kawabata said HDOA has PT data-gathering position listed. Good for college students…
Updated 04/06/12 go to KCFA Store and get yours! sold out Eco-Spreader Gallons: 20 on hand — KCFA Members: Â $106.85Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nonmembers: $108.65 Mycotrol-O quarts: 60 on hand— KCFA Members: Â $79Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nonmembers:Â $81.00 Mahalo
MARCH 2012 NEWSLETTER CORRECTION! The chart showing the approximate cost to spray coffee trees with Botanigard-ES and Spreader was incorrect due to a conversion factor error. The corrected version is shown here. Please accept our apologies for any confusion this may have caused. Number of Trees Botanigard-ES Spreader Approx. Cost 650 2 quarts 1 quarts $135…
Link to Honolulu Civil Beat article: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2011/10/11/13185-hawaii-ag-officials-hope-to-save-coffee-farms-from-spreading-beetle-scourge/
CBB/Broca Prevention Update*** Primary TIP- to do asap! Go and pick all of your mature green beans, old cherry and raisins off your coffee trees right now. There aren’t many beans. Think you are wasting your time? Check out the opposite of the stem end (or the belly button end), and see if you can see a…
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…
updated 10.03.11 CBB Observations 1. Multiple Applications of Botanigard/Mycotrol are required for control. 2. Fungus Works! 3. One ounce Fungus in 4 gallons of H20 may be sufficient. 4. Don’t put infested cherry in white plastic bags. Is not effective. USE heavy duty black garbage bags that should be tied securely and then left in…
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…
10/02/11 From a friend, this is what Hawaii Coffee Company is doing at the treehouse in Capt. Cook Listed cherry price is $1.10 If you have 0%-6%Â cbb, he will give you an extra $0.15 per pound If you have 7%-20% cbb, he will pay flat $1.10 If you have >20% cbb, he will dock…
CBB is a regional problem.  Whatever you choose to do/not do to reduce CBB, affects all the other Kona coffee farmers.  CHOP & CHIP 3 yr. Fallow If you choose to fallow your coffee orchard due to CBB, because: ·  The % of CBB in your cherry, makes it not profitable ·   You cannot afford or don’t…
It’s harvest time in Kona folks. Time to walk the orchard and watch those first beans changin’ color, creepin’ towards red. Is it too early to call in the pickers? , you ask yourself. Should I pick this round myself? Why didn’t I fix up the drying deck in the off season, cause now there’s…
We are interested in supporting the Kona Coffee Estate farmer in every way. Apply for your Estate status and let your customers know that the coffee in their bag is all yours. Click here to search our Current Estates To apply: 1. You must be a farmer and member of Kona Coffee Farmers Association. 2.…
CBB Observations 1. Multiple Applications of Botanigard/Mycotrol are required for control. 2. Fungus Works! 3. One ounce Fungus in 4 gallons of H20 may be sufficient. 4. Don’t put infested cherry in white plastic bags. Is not effective. USE heavy duty black garbage bags that should be tied securely and then left in the sun…
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
—-– Forwarded Message —- From: Randy Martin <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, April 15, 2011 2:49:20 AM Subject: Mycotrol-O Suzanne – we’ve recently become aware of some non-BioWorks Mycotrol-O (and potentially BotaniGard ES) that has found its way into the marketplace in Hawaii .  One grower purchased some material and was having a difficult time getting the…
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…
March 29, 2011 University of Hawai’i at Manoa UH Symposium page Coffee Bean Borer Abstracts from March 2011 Symposium
Information on Botanigard ES Mycoinsecticide for control of the Coffee Bean Borer Coffee Bean Borer Control by Botanigard ES
This is an extensive listing of what products can and can’t be safely mixed with Botanigard in your sprayer. BotaniGard Extensive Compatibility Listing
Received, March 8, 2011 TO: Kona Coffee Farmers Association This is to inform you that the Hawaii Department of Agriculture is seeking comments regarding the proposed Board of Agriculture order to change the list placement of Beauveria bassiana GHA by deleting B. bassiana GHA from the List of Restricted Microorganisms (Part A) and adding B.…
Development of a CBB Mitigation Program for Kona Farms held at Yano Hall 1-4pm KCFA’s CBB Committee Meeting with Members from the HDOA and PBARC (Pacific Basin Agricultural Resource Center). Candid photos and one group photo before the meeting.
update 12/18/2010 by Melanie Bondera Thank you for all your feedback and input! We’ve sent the fungus off to several labs for identification. Farmers should go out and collect any b. bassiana fungus from their own farms before the harvest season ends and there are no more coffee cherries. Here’s my suggested collection procedure. Find…
Melanie Bondera- November 2010 Beauvaria bassiana fungus and Coffee Borer Beetle I went to the CBB Farmer meeting at Yano Hall on Tuesday, 11/8/10. I was not satisfied with the material being presented, but was very curious about a comment by another coffee farmer. He suggested that we’ve actually had Coffee Borer Beetle for a…
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…
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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…
