Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Check out more available positions at the HDOA Careers webpage at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/careers/
Grow your future with HDOA!

Growing strong: Hilo Orchid Show and Sale returns for its 70th year Kelsey Walling/Tribune-Herald Two Cattleya Toshie Aoki 'Pizazz' orchids have bloomed from a tree in Mendonca's garden in Hilo.

🫙 In May, we kicked off our first of 10 food preservation workshops for farmers with the always-fabulous Instructor Kalen Kelekoma from Anahola - covering all the important need-to-knows. Farmers got to take home a ton of goodies to enjoy the fruits of their labor, in this hands-on workshop series.

The series will repeat starting this month to provide more openings for other farmers and food producers to attend. The intention is for commercial food producers to attend the series and we’re hoping to see some of our new grads bring fresh Kaua’i products to the market and food hub soon!

Mahalo to the County of Kaua‘i Office of Economic Development for funding this inspiring series of workshops to help our farmers diversify their businesses, prevent food waste, and bring tasty new products to our community!

If you’re a commercial farmer or food producer interested in attending one of the next workshops, apply using the link on the flyer. Preference is given to Moloa‘a Irrigation Cooperative members, and vendors of our food hub, but we expect additional seats will be available!

Come tour and talk about the new Value-Added Product Development Center in Wahiawā next Friday! The link to RSVP is http://tiny.cc/Valueadded or you can scan the QR code
-added

A live opossum was captured early this morning outside a downtown Honolulu building by Honolulu police. HDOA agriculture inspectors were dispatched and took custody of the animal. It's unknown how the opossum got there, but they are known to stow away on shipping containers.

See the news release for more information: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr24-23-downtownopossum/

HDOA's Market Development Branch has opened a grant program for small-scale agriculture, which includes backyard farming. Applications are being accepted until Aug. 12, 2024. Individuals may apply for $5,000 grants and organizations may apply for $10,000 grants.

For more information, view the news release at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr24-21mgfsp/
or visit the Micro-Grant for Food Security Program website at: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/add/mgfsp/

The Advisory Committee on Minority Farmers will meet on July 23-25 in Tarrytown, NY to consider USDA programs and policies and their impacts on minority farmers. The committee will then recommend action-oriented strategies to maximize the participation of minority farmers in USDA programs and services.
The public is invited to attend in person or virtually. Pre-register by July 22, 2024 ➡️ https://www.usda.gov/partnerships/advisory-committee-on-minority-farmers

HDOA's Pesticides Branch will be conducting the Pesticide Disposal Program for farmers and commercial users on Lanai. The drop off will be in August, but pre-registration is required by July 16, 2024. For more information on acceptable pesticides and registration information, go to: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr24-20lanaipesticidedropoff/

Hawaii Department of Agriculture to Collect Unwanted Pesticides from Farms and Other Commercial Users on Lanai July 9, 2024 NR24-20 HONOLULU – The Pesticides Branch of the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) is extending its free pesticide disposal program to the island of Lāna‘i in August. Lāna‘i farmers and other commercial users of pesticides may safely dispose of canceled, suspended, unwan...

HDOA has awarded grants to community-based programs to fight the coconut rhinoceros beetles and to manage green waste, which is the prime breeding ground for the beetles.
For more information, view the news release at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nr24-19crbgrants/

U.S. Mission ASEAN and USDA are organizing a Year of the Woman Farmer Road Show to bring two experienced U.S. women farmers to Vietnam and Indonesia to speak to women farmers, agricultural students, extension workers, and other stakeholders. The selected speakers will lead discussions on how technology, particularly digital technology, have enabled their farms to survive and thrive. They are seeking one livestock/animal farmer and one crop/horticultural farmer. Preference will be given to those women farmers with on-farmbcottage industries (e.g. processing for sale their own jams, preserves, cheeses, confections,
beverages, baked goods, etc.) as many Southeast Asian women farmers engage in similar economic activities.

In recognition of the United Nation’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of the Woman Farmer, U.S. Mission ASEAN and U.S. Department of Agriculture are organizing a Road Show to bring two U.S. women farmers to Vietnam and Indonesia to speak to women farmers, agricultural students, extension workers and others. Learn more and apply by July 5!https://www.nasda.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Notice-of-Speaking-Opportunity-Year-of-Woman-Farmer-Road-Show.pdf

Hawaii is one of the top states with women agricultural producers! 43%!

New Female Producers Highlights from the 2022 Census of Agriculture show that more than half (58%) of all U.S. farms had at least one female producer, accounting for 41% of all U.S. ag sales and 46% of farmland. The country’s 1.2 million female producers were slightly younger and more likely to be a beginning farmer than male producers in the United States.https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2024/Census22_HL_FemaleProducers.pdf

Celebrate National Pineapple Day with a purpose! Blood Bank of Hawaii has partnered with Dole Food Company for a special blood drive event. This Thursday, at the Young Street and Waikele Center blood donation sites, when you donate blood, you’ll receive a locally grown pineapple as a mahalo for your generosity, while supplies last! Your support is crucial in saving lives and ensuring a steady blood supply for our community.

It’s not too late to sign up. Schedule your appointment today at BBH.org or call us at (808) 848-4770.

A new coffee labeling law goes into effect on July 1, which will require more detailed labeling of coffee products that blend Hawaii-grown coffee with coffee from elsewhere.

For more information, go to: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/blog/main/nnr24-18coffeelabelinglaw/

New Coffee Labeling Rules Effective July 1 June 24, 2024 NR24-18 HONOLULU – New labeling requirements for Hawai‘i-branded coffee products will go into effect on July 1, 2024 and will apply to all coffee product inventory sold to the public or displayed at retail stores in Hawai‘i. The Hawaiian Coffee Labeling Act 211, which was enacted...

Congratulations to Ms. Coombs! She also serves as Chair of the Molokai Irrigation System Water Users Advisory Board and HDOA appreciates her service to the state and to the Molokai agricultural community!

A huge congratulations to 's own Jill Coombs for being honored in the Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 Class of 2024! Hailing from Molokai, Jill is a passionate advocate for agriculture across our state. Through her leadership, she has significantly contributed to the health and well-being of our employees and championed STEM education initiatives in schools. Her dedication to sustainable farming and conservation is inspiring. Her management of the Molokai farm conservation plan ensures farm stewardship and responsible resource management including maintaining the farms' pollinator habitat. We are incredibly proud and fortunate to have her as part of our Ohana!

Oahu County 4-H Livestock Show was a blast. Great group of young and upcoming 4-Hers to work with. Thank you to all the volunteers and to Kawailoa Ranch for always hosting the event.

Looking forward to meeting up with everyone next month at the Hawaii 4-H State Show!

HDOA participated in the Hawaii on the Hill event in Washington, D.C., featuring local produce and Hawaii-made products. From left to right: Brendan Akamu (Market Development Branch manager), Karen Sur (economic development specialist), and Dexter Kishida, (Deputy to the Chairperson).

It's (June 17-23), a time to celebrate the important role pollinators play in our lives! 100+ crops grown in the U.S. rely on pollinators. Learn more about the ways USDA is protecting pollinators: usda.gov/pollinators

Join us for a FREE farm day on Maui at Baldwin High School! The link to register is https://www.eventbrite.com/.../farm-day-at-baldwin-high... 🌻

🌱 This webinar aims to share vital information gathered on soil preparation, variety selection, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and harvesting techniques for upland taro. Our goal is to share with all producers to help achieve optimal yields and high-quality produce. 🤓

Monday, June 17th
5:30-7:30pm via Zoom
Free - Registration required.

Register at www.gofarmhawaii.org - link in bio 💚

Sharing info on Maui County grant opportunity for agriculture. https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2024/06/local-agriculture-organizations-may-apply-for-county-department-of-ag-grants/

Local agriculture organizations may apply for County Department of Ag grants The Maui News KAHULUI – Grants administered by the County of Maui Department of Agriculture are available for nonprofit and for profit organizations in the Maui County agriculture sector, and qualified groups are encouraged to apply now until 4:30 p.m. June 30, 2024. Grants will be awarded in the ...

Eat local, shop local, live local at the Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair on June 1 - https://www.mauinews.com/news/local-news/2024/05/eat-local-shop-local-live-local-at-the-maui-agfest-4-h-livestock-fair-on-june-1/
-news

In response to the cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) in cattle on the mainland, HDOA's Animal Disease Control Branch placed restrictions on the transport of cattle from areas where infected cattle have been detected. No infected cattle have been detected in Hawaii.

Sharing a video from Michigan State University on current information on high pathogenic avian influenza.

Avian Influenza: What We Know and What We’re Finding With HPAI in Dairy Cattle. On March 25, 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) shared their first update regarding the detection of HPAI in dairy cattle in several st...

Sharing a HNN news segment on the opening of a new agriculture learning center at Waipahu High School. Encouraging news that students are learning about using technology to produce food that will be used in the school's cafeteria.

Waipahu High School’s new learning center lets agriculture students serve food they grow themselves Waipahu High School opens new learning center designed to teach students about agricultural technology and houses the schools’ natural resources and culinary programs.

Buy Local and Give Local - It matters!

Tropical Gardening: Give living gifts for Christmas Only a bit over three weeks and we celebrate Christmas but let’s also get into the spirit with Hanukkah from December 7 to December 15. Canada’s Boxing Day and then Kwanzaa carries us from December 26 to the New Year. It should be a time to rejoice and share aloha, but also recognize that there ...