Month: March 2010

March 5, 2010 General Ag News and Notes, Vegtables Post a Comment

Florida chill puts tomato prices up the vine – latimes.com

By Hugo Martín and P.J. Huffstutter

March 5, 2010 | 9:00 p.m.

Because of frigid temperatures in Florida, you might have to enjoy a BLT without the T.

Freezing winter weather in the Sunshine State has wiped out nearly 70% of its tomato crop, sending prices soaring in many parts of the country and forcing fast-food restaurants to ration supplies of the plump, popular fruit.

In California, with a $363-million fresh tomato crop last year, the Florida freeze is being felt to a degree. At a Wendy’s eatery in Santa Clarita, for instance, the staff had taped up a sign near the drive-through menu that broke the bad news: The Florida chill was making tomatoes scarce, at least for the time being.

Inside the restaurant, a customer frowned after biting into a cheeseburger. The only red on the sandwich was from the ketchup.

A representative for Atlanta-based Wendy’s said tomatoes would be included in its meals only at the customer’s request. In Oak Brook, Ill., McDonald’s said the tomato crisis had not changed operations at the restaurant chain. A spokeswoman for Quiznos Sub Shop declined to comment on the tomato chill.

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March 5, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Hawaii County to sell off coqui-control equipment as invasive species mutates | honoluluadvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser

honadv

HILO — As it dismantles the last vestiges of its coqui-control program, Hawaii County plans to sell off the equipment some community groups say is essential to their voluntary eradication efforts.

The move comes just as scientists say the county’s coqui population is maturing into much larger frogs. Where once they were described as the size of quarters, a coqui was recently reported the size of a tennis ball, said Mark Munekata of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board.

"The coquis don’t have any budget cuts," Munekata said, adding that the frogs seem to rapidly adapt to Hawaii conditions. "Once you think you understand them, they do something else and throw you for a loop."

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March 4, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Maui Association of Landscape Professionals

MALP Educational Meeting — Free to the public
"Common Plant Health Problems in Hawaii Landscapes"

Our speaker for March is Dr Scot C. Nelson, he will be discussing Common Plant Health Problems in Hawaii Landscapes,.

Tuesday March 23rd 6.30pm (Pupu served)
Maui Community Services Bldg., next to CTAHR Extension Service at the Maui Community College Campus. Click Here for Map

Dr. Nelson has been employed as a plant pathologist at the University of Hawaii at Manoa since 1992, having been stationed at Manoa, Hilo (his current location) and in Kona. He has experience with plant pests and diseases in landscape settings, at homes, businesses, tourist destinations and resorts throughout the state.

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March 2, 2010 Agriculture Grants, General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Revitalizing the land of plenty with affordable housing | MIT news

Students in Professor Jan Wampler’s class, Architecture Design Studio, spent eight days designing affordable dwellings for farmers in Hawaii

Hawaii Island is caught in a Catch 22 situation.

Although the island boasts a fertile landscape that can easily support a broad range of agriculture, 85-90 percent of food consumed is imported from the mainland. High real estate costs have been partially responsible for perpetuating this dependency, prohibiting many young families from owning and farming the land as their parents did. Some locals have even left Hawaii in search of work.

As part of a larger effort to revitalize Hawaii’s agricultural economy, MIT architecture students, led by Professor Jan Wampler, have partnered with the local non-profit Kohala Center and the Starseed Ranch to provide young farmers with land and housing.

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March 1, 2010 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

E Wash scientists study biochar for energy

By KEVIN MCCULLEN
TRI-CITY HERALD

RICHLAND, Wash. — Scientists in Eastern Washington are at the forefront of research into an ancient practice that shows promise as a clean fuel source, a way to improve soil condition and to capture carbon that otherwise would be released into the atmosphere.

Researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the federal Department of Agriculture’s research station in Prosser and Washington State University have been integral figures in studies of biochar and its potential uses.

Biochar, a charcoal-like material, is produced when biomass – including wood, plant and animal waste – is burned in the absence of or under low oxygen conditions so the material doesn’t combust.

This process, called pyrolysis, thermally decomposes the waste into biochar, bio-oil and syngas. Biochar and bio-oil show commercial promise and syngas offers a power source that can run a pyrolyzer.

The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service has estimated that if the United States were to pyrolyze 1.3 billion tons of various forms of biomass annually, it could replace 1.9 billion barrels of imported oil with bio-oil. That would represent about 25 percent of the annual oil consumption in this country. In addition, USDA estimates the country could sequester 153 million tons of carbon annually by adding biochar to soils.

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