Hawaii Weekly Crop Weather Report

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Crop Weather* (crop progress and condition) Report for the week ending *June 17, 2007*
current_hi061707.pdf
Please visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/ for more information.

USDA NASS Hawaii Field Office
1421 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512
1-800- 804-9514

Agricultural Highlights

Fruits

Banana
Kauai orchards were in good to fair condition. Orchards in windward districts received good overall rains for good soil moisture. Oahu orchards were in fair to good condition. Fields in windward Oahu remained in fair condition maintaining light to moderate harvesting as BBTV continues to affect fields. Leeward and central Oahu fields made good progress with active harvesting. Irrigation levels were bumped up to heavy levels during the week due to the dry days. Soil moisture in East Hawaii orchards increased slightly with light rains occurring over several days early in the week. The crop is in fair to good condition. Field operations remain normal. BBTV incidences remain isolated in the Puna and Kona areas.

Papaya
Hawaii County orchards were in fair to good condition. Soil moisture increased this week due to light daily rainfall. Mostly overcast days with a few sunny periods during the week have been beneficial to crop progress. Harvest and spray activities were active. Oahu harvesting was at moderate levels. Mealy bugs and ring spot virus in some fields kept production lower than expected.

Vegetables

Head Cabbage
Most Maui fields were as well as can be expected considering the hot growing conditions. The heat was creating stressful field conditions especially for the lower elevation areas. The dry landscape has also encouraged wildlife feeding along the borders. Some fields were also showing signs of increased insect pressure. So far, the head cabbage crop has been able to maintain good yield. A timely spraying program has continued to be necessary to minimize loss from insect damage. The crop in Waimea was in generally good condition. Light insect damage on outer leaves was noticed. Irrigation was keeping crop progress about normal. The crop in Volcano welcomed light but steady showers.

Sweet Corn
The young crop in East Hawaii benefited from rain early in the week. Planting has been steady and the harvest is fairly steady. Product was mostly for local sales. Harvesting was active as beneficial weather conditions allowed the plants to make good progress with good market supplies from windward and central Oahu fields. Some reports of light worm damage during the week.

Cucumbers
Pickings from most Oahu fields were at moderate to heavy levels and anticipated to continue increasing as plants remained in active harvest. Melon fly infestation and light pickle worm damage has affected crop yields in some areas during the week. Irrigation levels were heavy as the dry weather continued in most crop growing areas.

Dry Onions
The continuous dry growing conditions have begun to have a detrimental effect on the dry onion crop. The hot field conditions have slowed crop growth and development. Yields are likely to decrease because of the reduced size. The fields that were harvested and marketed a few weeks earlier have supplied the market demand and newly harvested production has not been able to move into the various markets at the same rate as in the past.

Hawaii Weekly Crop Weather Report

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Crop Weather* (crop progress and condition) Report for the week ending *June 10, 2007*

current_hi-061007.pdf

Please visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/ for more information.

USDA NASS Hawaii Field Office
1421 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512
1-800- 804-9514

Weather Review

Weather conditions had a variable effect on agriculture during the week ending Sunday, June 10. High pressure to the north and low pressure to the south resulted in a week of light to moderate trade winds with mostly light, passing showers. Most of the shower activity was limited to the northern islands during the first half of the week and shifted to the southern half of the State during the weekend. These passing showers occurred in windward areas and the higher elevations with some lighter amounts being blown over to the leeward side of the islands. Conditions were particularly dry on the Big Island where temperatures reached new daily highs on Monday and Wednesday. The Mayor of the County of Hawaii declared a State of Emergency on June 5 due to the continuing dry weather. A voluntary 10-percent reduction in water usage was in effect for the districts of North and South Kohala, Hamakua, and Ka`u. A mandatory 25-percent reduction in water usage was in effect for the following specific areas of the Big Island: Waimea Town to Kawaihae, Upper Pa`auilo, and Ahualoa. In addition, the State Department of Agriculture continued to place users of the Honokaa-Paauilo irrigation system under a mandatory 30-percent water conservation notice due to damage sustained from the October 15, 2006 earthquake. Users of the Waimea irrigation system were asked to voluntarily cutback irrigation water usage by 10 percent. Overall, recent weather conditions have had a variable effect on agriculture. Non-irrigated crops, those dependent on natural rainfall, were in fair to poor condition. Crops located in windward areas were faring better than those in the drier leeward areas of the island. Irrigated crops were in fair to good condition. Abundant sunshine and adequate irrigation was ensuring normal growth. Spraying for insects and disease continued on a regular schedule.

Agricultural Highlights

Fruits

Banana
Orchards in eastern sections of the island of Hawaii were in fair to good condition. Mostly sunny days facilitate field operations, but soil moisture was declining. Banana Bunchy Top virus incidences remain isolated in the Puna and Kona areas. Oahu orchards were in fair to good condition. Fields in windward areas remained in fair condition. Banana Bunchy Top virus continued to affect fields. Leeward and central Oahu fields made good progress, but were also slowed by light Banana Bunchy Top virus damage. Irrigation remained at moderate to heavy levels during the week due to the dry days.

Papaya

Big Island orchards were in fair to good condition. Soil moisture decreased and additional rain is needed to raise soil moisture to more satisfactory levels. Mostly sunny days dominated the week, but some light showers were beneficial. Fruit development and ripening were good on Oahu. However, mealy bugs and ring spot virus in some fields kept production lower than anticipated. Orchards on Kauai continued to make fair to good progress during the week. Spraying to contain the insect population was stepped up to contain the increased infestation.

Vegetables

Head Cabbage

The crop in the Big Island?s Waimea area was in generally good condition. Light insect damage on outer leaves was noticed. Irrigation ensured normal crop progress. The Volcano crop was experiencing slow progress due to dry conditions. Maui?s crop continued to make good progress. Warm temperatures stressed some lower elevation fields, but generally those fields were in good condition. Insect pressure and damage was light, but elevated in some fields. Head size was large. On Oahu, insect infestation was at light levels and mostly under control. New plants were in good condition.

Sweet Corn

Young planting in eastern sections of Hawaii County made slow progress. Newly seeded beds have gaps in the rows due to seedlings dying for lack of moisture. Light showers during the week provided some relief. Beneficial weather conditions allowed the plants to make good progress in central Oahu fields. Windward fields made good progress during the week and are expected to be harvested at moderate to heavy levels.

Cucumbers

Pickings from most Oahu fields were at moderate to heavy levels and anticipated to continue increasing as plants were in active harvest. Melon fly infestation and light pickle worm damage has affected crop yields in some areas during the week. Irrigation levels remained heavy as the dry weather continued in most crop growing areas.

Dry Onions

Maui?s crop benefited from the dry weather and regular irrigation. Growth and development was good in most fields, although the warm temperatures have started to detrimentally affect some fields by slowing growth. Quality of harvested bulbs has reportedly been very good.

Hawaii Weekly Crop Weather Report

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Crop Weather* (crop progress and condition) Report for the week ending April 29, 2007

current_hi-050107.pdf

Please visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/ for more information.USDA NASS Hawaii Field Office
1421 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512

Agricultural Highlights

Fruits

Banana
Soil moisture in windward areas of the Big Island was high and the crop was in generally good condition. Mostly sunny days, following wet weather early in the week, were beneficial for fruit development and orchard condition.

Banana
Bunchy Top virus incidences remain isolated in the Puna and Kona areas. Oahu banana orchards were in fair to good condition. Fields in windward areas were in fair condition. Banana Bunchy Top virus continued to adversely affect production. Leeward and central Oahu fields made fair to good progress. Rouging and spraying for insect infestation was stepped up and has helped slow Banana Bunchy Top infections in the area. Irrigation levels were at moderate to heavy levels due to the windy and dry weather. Fruit development and ripening continued to improve due to mostly sunny skies and the longer daylight hours.

Papaya
Orchards on Hawaii Island were in fair to good condition. Showers increased soil moisture to satisfactory levels in most orchards. Active flowering occurred in most fields. Orchards on Kauai made fair to good progress during the week. Spraying to contain insects was on a regular schedule.

Vegetables

Chinese Cabbage
The Big Island?s Waimea crop continued to make steady progress. Planting was very active in selected fields. Irrigation was necessary due to dry and windy conditions. Excessive weeds were noticed in many fields. Quality of harvested heads was fair to good.

Head Cabbage
The Big Island?s Waimea crop was in generally good condition. Light insect damage was noticed on outer leaves. Irrigation kept crop progress normal. Crop progress in the Volcano area was slow due to wet conditions. On Oahu, increasing diamond back moth infestation was stemmed with increasing control measures. New plantings were in good to fair condition.

Sweet Corn
Planting and field prep were ongoing in the windward side of the Big Island. Frequent showers and warm temperatures boosted growth. Overall, the crop was making good progress with younger plantings making steady progress. Central Oahu fields made good progress having benefited from sunny skies, dry conditions, and warmer temperatures during the week. Light worm infestation was mostly under control. Windward area fields also made good progress.

Cucumbers
Harvesting is expected to pickup on Oahu fields as new plantings come into active harvest. Wind damage and scarring of fruits were light in exposed areas. Irrigation levels were heavy due to the dry weather.

Dry Onions
On Maui, growth and development of plantings have been very good. Fields, at all stages of development, were in good condition. Maturing fields are expected to have good yields and quality. Average bulb size is also anticipated to increase. Younger, newly-planted, fields also faired well during the week.

*Monthly* *Hawaii Vegetables* Report

Here is the PDF file for the *Monthly* *Hawaii Vegetables* Report

monveg1042707.pdf

Please visit the website for more information: http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/

————————————————————-
Contact Information:
Mark E. Hudson, Director
USDA NASS Hawaii Field Office
1421 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512

Office: (808) 973-9588 / (800) 804-9514
Fax: (808) 973-2909
————————————————————-

*Monthly* *Hawaii Vegetables* Report reports are available on our website http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/ and also PRINTED monthly. Subscriptions for PRINTED copies are free to those persons who report agricultural data to NASS (upon request) and available for $4 per year to all others.

Production Generally Above Year Ago

Chinese cabbage production in March totaled 642,000 pounds, increases of 10 percent and 14 percent from the February 2007 and March 2006, respectively. Improved yields resulted in the higher production. In general, weather conditions were beneficial for crop development and kept crops in fair to good condition.

Head cabbage growers produced a total of 1.4 million pounds in March. This was an increase of 49 percent and 10 percent from last month and the previous year, respectively. Favorable weather conditions helped to increase yields and offset the decline in acreage for harvest. Insect infestations were kept under control with regular spraying. The crop was in good condition.

Sweet Corn growers produced an estimated 209,000 pounds in March, this was 63 percent and 248 percent above last month and a year ago, respectively. This increase was the result of improved yields and an increase in acreage for harvest. Favorable weather conditions helped to boost ear development and size, maintaining the crop in good condition.

Cucumber production during March increased 7 percent and 13 percent from February 2007 and March 2006 to 366,000 pounds. The crop harvested during the month was in fair condition. However, improved weather during March has helped the newer crop vines, flowers, and fruit sets.

Tomato production totaled 1.1 million pounds in March, a 13 percent and 10 percent increase over the previous month and a year earlier, respectively. The tomato crop was in fair to good condition.

HAWAII CROP WEATHER

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Crop Weather* (crop progress and condition) Report for the week ending *April 1, 2007*

current_hi040107.pdf

Please visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/ for more information.USDA NASS Hawaii Field Office
1421 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512

Agricultural Highlights

Fruits
Banana

Orchards in eastern sections of Hawaii Island had adequate moisture. Spraying was required to minimize disease damage. Banana Bunchy Top virus damage was still localized in the Puna and Kona areas. Oahu orchards were in good to fair condition. Fields in windward Oahu made fair progress with light to moderate harvesting. Leeward and central Oahu fields remained in fair to good condition. Irrigation was at moderate to heavy levels. Fruit development and ripening continued to improve during the week with the favorable weather conditions. Kauai?s orchards were in fair to good condition.
Papaya
Papaya orchards in the lower Puna area of the Big Island were in fair to good condition. Spraying for disease and weed control was active during the week. Young papaya fields in the lower Kapoho area made steady progress. Fruit quality and yields were improving. Orchards on Kauai made fair to good progress during the week. Spraying to contain insect infestation and disease infestation remained slow in rainy areas.
Vegetables
Chinese Cabbage
The Big Island?s crop was making good progress with heavy irrigation. Light disease incidence was noticed on the wrapper leaves. Head quality and yields were generally good. New plantings made good growth.
Head Cabbage
On Hawaii Island, the Waimea crop made good progress with irrigation. Selective spraying was minimizing insect and disease damage. New plantings increased in the Lalamilo area and were making good progress. Maui?s crop was reported to be showing steady increased growth due to the warming conditions and longer day length. Rainfall received a couple of week ago increased the overall ground moisture and some producers may reduce irrigation for the week. Some areas reported that the increase moisture has increased incidences of rot. While there has been some loss due to the rot, overall production is not expected to be significantly affected. Overall the crop was in generally fair condition. On Oahu, new plants were in good condition. Insect infestation remained light to moderate.
Sweet Corn
Sunny, dry, and warm weather allowed plants to make good progress in central Oahu fields. Windward fields made fair to good progress, slightly slowed with the overcast skies and intermittent rains. Big Island plantings had adequate oil moisture and the crop was making steady progress. Overall, the crop condition was in fair condition.
Cucumbers
New plantings on Oahu made good progress during the week as the warmer and sunnier weather conditions were favorable for most fields located in the central part of the island. Flower and fruit set was good during the week.
Semi-head (Manoa) Lettuce
The dry weather and higher temperatures have caused an increase in insect infestation and light damage to Oahu?s Manoa lettuce crop. Spraying to control insects was active.
Dry Onions
The crop on Maui benefited from this week?s sunny weather and in generally fair condition. Average bulb size was larger, although there were some losses due to quality defects in development as a result of cooler conditions during the previous months. Overall, producers are expecting increased improvement in the condition of the dry onion crop. Yields are expected to increase and losses from defects are expected to decrease as growing conditions continue to improve.
Miscellaneous
Ginger Root

Most growers have finished harvest for the season. Planting and field preparation for next season?s crop was active in east Hawaii sections.

HAWAII CROP WEATHER

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Crop Weather* (crop progress and condition) Report for the week ending *March 25, 2007*

current_hi032607.pdf

Please visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/ for more information.
USDA NASS Hawaii Field Office
1421 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512

Agricultural Highlights

Banana
Orchards in eastern sections of Hawaii Island were in good to fair condition. Young plants were making good progress. Soil moisture was adequate. Regular spraying was minimizing disease and insect damage. Oahu orchards were in fair to good condition. Fields in windward Oahu made fair to good progress with light to moderate harvesting. Leeward and central Oahu fields remained in fair to good condition. Irrigation levels were at moderate levels during the week. Fruit development and ripening continued to improve during the week with the favorable weather conditions. On Kauai, orchards were in fair to good condition. Harvesting was expected to continue light to moderate for on island market.
Papaya
Light showers and sunny days benefited orchard growth in the lower Puna areas of the Big Island. Routine spraying has minimized disease damage. Field activities such as weeding, leaf trimming, fertilizing, and harvesting were active. Fruit quality and yields were fair. Young plantings made steady progress. Orchards on Kauai made fair to good progress during the week. Pickings remained at light to very light levels from many older fields. Spraying to contain insects and diseases were slowed in areas where the winds were too blustery.
Head Cabbage
The Big Island?s Waimea crop was in good to fair condition. Weeds were a problem in isolated Puukapu and Lalamilo fields. Head quality was generally good. New plantings made steady progress. Maui?s head cabbage crop made good progress. Weather conditions enabled continued growth and uniform development. Insect pressure was present, but has been generally kept under control. Damage has been minimal for most fields. Overall, the head cabbage crop was in fair condition. New fields on Oahu were in good condition with fields in active harvest. Insect infestation remained under control and head quality was good.
Dry Onions
On Maui, some maturing fields were producing larger bulbs compared to previous harvests. Young fields have benefited from the increasing day length and are expected to do well with the changing weather conditions. Overall, the dry onion crop was generally in fair condition.
Sweet Corn
The Big Island crop was in good to fair condition. Soil moisture was adequate and sunny periods benefited crop growth. Harvesting was active. On Oahu, harvesting was active with the continued sunny, dry, and warmer weather allowing the plants to make good progress in central Oahu fields. Windward fields made fair to good progress. The drier weather also allowed more active field preparation and planting to occur.
Cucumbers
New plantings on Oahu made good to fair progress during the week as the winds slowed crop progress and caused some damage to fruits in exposed fields. Flower and fruit set was fair during the week.
Coffee
Light coffee flowering was observed in the Holualoa district of the Big Island. Coffee fields on Kauai continued to make good progress with good flowering from the last rains.
Ginger Root
Field preparation and planting continue to take place in eastern areas of Hawaii Island. Conditions were good for planting activities. Harvesting was light.