Tag: MON

July 20, 2007 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Hawaii Papayas Report

Here is the PDF file for the Hawaii Papayas Report.

papaya072307.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
————————————————————-
“HAWAII PAPAYAS” reports are available on our website 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.

JUNE FRESH PAPAYA OUTPUT LOWER

Hawaii fresh papaya utilization is estimated at 2.1 million pounds for June 2007, 2 percent lower than May 2007 and June 2006. Output for the first half of the year totaled 13.0 million pounds, slightly higher than the same period last year.

Total in crop for June is estimated at 1,735, down 10 percent from March 2007 and 1 percent less than June 2006. Bearing acreage totaled 800 acres, 8 percent below March of this year and declining 47 percent from June of last year. Bearing acreage should increase as new acreage comes into production late summer or early fall.

June weather conditions continued warm and sunny with occasional showers. More rain would be beneficial towards growth and fruit development. Clear weather assisted in field operations and usual orchard maintenance.

Papaya growers are expected to receive an estimated 52.0 cents per pound for fresh fruit in June, 6 percent (3.0 cents) higher than May and 10 percent (4.9 cents) more than last June.

July 19, 2007 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Methods to clean up contaminated soil: Heptachlor Part 3

Molokai Times
By Alexandra Charles
7/19/2007

poison on MolokaiTo restore Molokai’s contaminated soil, University of Hawaii researchers Alton Arakaki and Qing Li, as well as retired Molokai farmer Lonnie Williams, are rooting for a technique called phytoremediation, which consists of growing plants that can naturally accumulate chemicals from soil.

Barbara Zeeb, associate professor of biotechnologies and the environment at the Royal Military College of Canada, said that phytoremediation is “a treatment that shows promise as a safe and cost-effective remediation technology.”

For the past three years, Alton Arakaki, Assistant Extension Agent for the Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Hawaii, has been involved in a phytoremediation research project on Molokai that is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Arakaki is testing seven different squash species to determine their effectiveness in extracting heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide from soil. He plans on completing a report of the results by next March.

Many hope phytoremediation will be the answer for acres upon acres of ex-pineapple fields that were contaminated by heptachlor when it was used to kills pests on crops. Such an agricultural practice was commonplace before the Environmental Protection Agency classified heptachlor as a probable carcinogen and before the chemical was banned in the U.S. in 1988.

“Heptachlor is very good at killing insects, which is why it was used so widely,” said Jason White, agricultural scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. “It wasn’t known at the time that it is so persistent and that you find residues of the chemical still around even years after it was banned.”

Click to read complet article

http://www.molokaitimes.com/articles/7712135139.asp

Copyright 2007 Molokai Times

July 16, 2007 General Ag News and Notes, Papaya, Vegtables Post a Comment

Hawaii Weekly Crop Weather Report

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Crop Weather* (crop progress and condition) Report for the week ending *July 15, 2007*

current_hi071607.pdf

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

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

Agricultural Highlights

Fruits

Bananas

Orchards in eastern sections of the Big Island were in generally good condition. Warm days and adequate soil moisture benefited crop and fruit development. Field activities such as spraying, removal of leaves and lateral suckers were active. Black Leaf Streak disease incidences were observed in some fields. Oahu orchards were in fair to good condition. Windward fields remained in fair condition. A seasonal upswing kept leeward and central fields in active harvest. Irrigation levels were heavy. Orchards on Kauai were in good to fair condition. The dry weather and controlled irrigation benefited most orchards.

Papayas

On the Big Island, light showers, warm temperatures, and sunny periods benefited fruit development. Younger fields made good growth in the Kapoho area. Fallowed fields in the Opihikao area were being prepared for new plantings. Field operations such as spraying for weeds and disease control, leaf trimming, harvesting were active during the week. Flowering and fruit set were generally good. On Oahu, fruit development and ripening were good due to increased day length and sunny conditions. Mealy bugs were mostly under control while Ring Spot virus lowered production in some fields. Orchards on Kauai continued to make fair to good progress. Spraying to contain insect populations was stepped up during calm weather to contain the increased infestations.

Vegetables

Head Cabbage

In the Big Island?s Lalamilo area, warm temperatures were not favorable for good head development. Warm days combined with irrigation contributed to an increase in disease incidence. New plantings made steady progress with heavy irrigation. Maui?s crop made steady progress despite the hot growing conditions. Increased irrigation was necessary and so far producers have made efficient use of water. Some fields were showing signs of increased stress especially those in the lower elevation areas. Insect pressure has increased slightly, but so far damage has continued to be minimal due to close monitoring and timely spraying by farmers. There have been reports of some losses due to wildlife feeding. Some fields on Oahu were abandoned to control the increasing pressure from the Diamondback moth infestation.

Dry Onions

Maui?s onion crop continued to make fair progress. Warm growing conditions were taking a toll on the crop. Older fields were struggling to develop good bulb size. In some fields, the heat stress has caused the plant to stop growing. Increased irrigation was helpful for some younger fields, but older fields have many factors to consider.

Sweet Corn

Weather conditions in windward sections of the Big Island were generally good for crop progress. On Oahu, harvesting was light after the holiday in July. However, supplies were heavy and new fields coming into production were making good progress. Light worm damage occurred during the week. Isolated fields in windward areas experienced growing problems and lower yields are anticipated from those fields.

July 13, 2007 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Hawaii Macadamia Nuts (Final Season Estimates)

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Macadamia Nuts (Final Season Estimates)* Report.

mac-fin071307.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
————————————————————-

“HAWAII MACADAMIA NUTS” reports are available on our website and also PRINTED twice a year. Subscriptions for PRINTED copies are free to those persons who report agricultural data to NASS (upon request) and available for $2 per year to all others.

Final Season Estimates Higher For 2006-2007 Crop Year
Hawaii?s 2006-07 end-of-season macadamia nut harvest is estimated at 58.0 million pounds net, wet-in-shell, up 4.0 million pounds from last season?s harvest, according to USDA, NASSHawaii Field Office. While not the highest on record, this season?s output matches the previous high set back during the 1997-98 crop year.

Weather for 2006 was mixed. Approximately six weeks of rainfall from late February thru March occurred statewide. For some macadamia nut orchards located in normally drier areas, the rainfall was welcome. However, macadamia nut orchards located in normally wet areas suffered lower output due to disease problems.

Early in the season, one large processor announced it would limit nut purchases from independent growers. Many growers have reported that the lack of an outlet to sell their nuts has been a problem and with lower nut prices, the crop has not been harvested by some growers. Some farmers have reportedly gone into other commodities due to the low prices being paid and the lack of an outlet to sell their nuts. Growers have also related that feral pigs were a problem in some areas. The feral pig problem has increased in some areas; probably due to growers leaving nuts on the ground and providing a food source for pigs which increased survival of offspring, lending itself to more pigs foraging for food.

Crop losses were estimated at 11.0 million pounds or 17 percent of the total crop. Immature nuts ranked as the highest cause of losses at nearly 38 percent followed by koa seed worm damage and moldy or rotten nut losses with 19 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Overall yields averaged 3,867 pounds per acre (net, wet-in-shell), 29 percent higher than the 2005-06 crop year.

Total acreage for 2006-07 decreased 1,300 acres to 17,000 acres while harvested area totaled 15,000 acres, a 3,000 acre decline from last season. The farm price for net, wet in-shell macadamia nuts averaged 67.0 cents per pound, 14.0 cents less than the 2005-06 average.

Crop Losses Measured By Processors Lower

Growers delivered an estimated 65.0 million pounds of macadamia nuts, wet-in-shell, to processors during the 2006-07 season. About 11 percent of the harvest was culled, resulting in 58.0 million pounds net, wet in-shell. The equivalent gross weight of losses, after adjusting for what would be the expected weight before the damage, was 11.0 million pounds, 11 percent less than last season?s revised estimates. Losses from nut immaturity ranked at the top with just under 38 percent of the total losses. Koa seed worm damage was the second most common type of loss at 19 percent, followed by losses from moldy or rotten nuts at 17 percent. Macadamia nut losses shown in this report include only those culled by processors and do not include losses that were culled at the farm before delivery.

U.S Nut Production Up 9 Percent, Value Down 17 Percent

The 2006 U.S nut production is estimated at 1.59 million tons (in-shell basis), 9 percent greater than a year earlier. The almond crop is 953,000 tons, up 23 percent from 2005. Walnut production in 2006, at 346,000 tons, is down 3 percent from the previous year. The pistachio crop is 119,000 tons, 16 percent smaller than 2005. Pecan production in 2006 totals 103,150 tons, a 26 percent drop from 2005. The hazelnut crop, at 43,000 tons, is 56 percent larger than the previous year. Macadamia production is 29,000 tons, up 7 percent.

The 2006 U.S. value of utilized nut production is estimated at 3.45 billion dollars, down 17 percent from the 2005 value. The almond crop is valued at 2.04 billion dollars, 19 percent less than 2005. Walnuts are valued at 554 million dollars, 1 percent less than 2005. Pistachio value for 2006, at 455 million dollars, is 22 percent less than last year. The value of the pecan crop decreased 21 percent to 321 million dollars. Hazelnut value, at 46.4 million dollars, is 25 percent below last year. The macadamia crop is valued at 38.9 million dollars, down 11 percent.

July 12, 2007 General Ag News and Notes Post a Comment

Hawaii Monthly Livestock Review

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Monthly Livestock Review* Report.

lvstk071207.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
————————————————————-

“HAWAII MONTHLY LIVESTOCK REVIEW” 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.

May Egg Production Down 17 Percent From A Year Ago
Hawaii egg production totaled 6.9 million (19,167 cases) in May 2007, down 17 percent from May 2006. The average number of layers on hand during May 2007 was estimated at 367,000, down 3 percent from April 2007 and down 18 percent from May 2006. The average rate of lay during May 2007 was 1,880 per 100 layers (60.6 percent rate of lay), up 1 percent from May 2006

May Cattle Marketings Up 10 Percent From 2006
Total cattle marketings for May 2007 is estimated at 7,500 head, up 10 percent from May 2006. Cumulative cattle marketings for 2007 through May totaled 24,000 head, down 1 percent from the same period a year ago.

May exports up 12 percent from year ago
Exports of steers and heifers totaled 6,500 head in May 2007, up 12 percent from a year ago. Exports of steers totaled 3,900 head during May 2007, 3 percent higher than a year ago. Total export of heifers was also higher in May 2007 compared to a year ago at 2,600 head, a 30 percent increase. Cumulative exports for 2007 totaled 19,500 head of steers and heifers through May, down 2 percent from the same period a year ago. Cumulative exports of steers for 2007 stands at 11,500 head, down 1 percent from 2006. Exports of heifers showed a larger decrease through the first five months of 2007 at 8,000 head or down 4 percent from a year ago. Exports of other classes of cattle were not included.

Average live weight up 2 percent
The average live weight of steers and heifers exported from Hawaii in May 2007 was 418 pounds, up 2 percent from May 2006?s average live weight of 412 pounds.

Commercial Beef Production Up 5 Percent
Hawaii commercial beef production (local slaughter) during May 2007 totaled 582,000 pounds, up 5 percent from May 2006. Cumulative beef production (local slaughter) through May 2007 totaled 2.6 million pounds, up 7 percent from a year ago. Commercial kill totaled 1,000 head in May, unchanged from May 2006. Average live weight per head was 1,085 pounds in May 2007, up 6 percent from the average live weight per head in May 2006.

Commercial Pork Production Down 5 Percent
Hawaii commercial pork production during May 2007 totaled 316,000 pounds, down 5 percent from May 2006. Cumulative pork production for the first five months of 2007 totaled 1.4 million pounds, down 7 percent from a year ago. Total hog kill was 1,900 head in May 2007, down 5 percent from a year ago. Average live weight per head was 219 pounds in May 2007, down 4 percent from the 227-pound average a year ago.

May Milk Production Down 35 Percent From Year Ago
Hawaii?s dairy cows produced 3.3 million pounds of milk in May 2007, down 35 percent from a year ago. Cumulative milk production for the first five months of 2007 totaled 18.9 million pounds, down 25 percent from the same period in 2006.

May?s Cow Herd Down 26 Percent From Year Ago
Hawaii?s cow herd, both dry and milking, numbered 3,200 head in May 2007, unchanged from April 2007 but down 26 percent from May 2006. Average milk per cow is estimated at 1,020 pounds for May 2007, down 14 percent from last May?s average of 1,185 pounds per cow.

Average Farm Prices

Most Livestock Prices Remain Higher Than Year-ago Averages

Steers and heifers
The average dress weight farm price for steers and heifers is estimated at 99.0 cents per pound for May 2007, down 1 percent from April 2007 but unchanged compared to a year ago.

Cows
The average dress weight farm price for cows is estimated at 55.0 cents per pound in May 2007, up 2 percent from April. Compared to a year ago, the average dress weight farm price for cows was up a penny from May 2006.

Market hogs
The average dress weight farm price for market hogs is estimated at $1.17 per pound for May 2007, down 2 percent from April 2007. Compared to a year ago, the dressed weight for market hogs was down 8 percent this May.

Milk
The average farm price for milk was $27.40 per hundredweight during May 2007, up 1 percent from April 2007. Compared to a year ago, the May 2007 average farm price for milk was 10 percent higher.

Eggs
The average farm price for a dozen eggs was $1.12 in May 2007, up 2 percent from April 2007 and 14 percent higher than a year ago.

July 8, 2007 General Ag News and Notes, Papaya, Vegtables Post a Comment

Hawaii Weekly Crop Weather Report

Here is the PDF file for the *Hawaii Crop Weather* (crop progress and condition) Report for the week ending *July 8, 2007*

current_hi070807.pdf

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

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

Agricultural Highlights

Fruits

Bananas
Orchards in windward areas of Hawaii island were in fair to good condition. Warm temperatures and good soil moisture were ideal for growth. Field activities remained normal. Banana Bunchy Top virus incidences remained isolated in the Puna and Kona areas. Oahu orchards were in fair to good condition. Fields in windward Oahu remained in fair condition. Leeward and central area fields were experiencing a seasonal upswing. Irrigation levels were at heavy levels during the week because of the dry weather. Kauai?s orchards were in good to fair condition.

Papayas
Orchards in the Puna area of the Big Island were in fair to good condition. Warm, humid conditions with abundant sun boost growth in most orchards. Soil moisture was adequate, and field activities continued on a normal schedule. New plantings made good progress. On Oahu, fruit development and ripening were good with the increased day length and sunny and dry weather conditions. Mealy bugs were mostly under control while Ring Spot virus kept lowered production in some fields. Orchards on Kauai continued to make fair to good progress during the week. Spraying to contain the insect population was stepped up during periods of calm weather to contain an increase in infestation.

Vegetables

Chinese Cabbage
The Big Island?s Waimea crop continued to make steady progress. Irrigation was regular and heavy to maintain crop progress in the Puukapu and Lalamilo farm lots. Conditions in the Volcano area were ideal for crop development.

Head Cabbage
The Big Island?s Waimea crop was in generally good condition. Heavy irrigation was required to keep crop progress normal. The Volcano crop improved as soil moisture was adequate and days were sunny. On Oahu, some fields were abandoned to control the increasing pressure from the diamondback moth infestation.

Semi-head (Manoa) Lettuce
On Oahu, planting remained steady, however, crop progress was slowed by the high temperatures and drying winds. Moderate to heavy insect infestation and some disease damage continued to lower yields. Spraying to control insects remained active. Planting on Kauai remained light but steady with fair plant progress.

Dry Onions
Maui?s crop was being challenged by continuous dry and warm conditions. The lack of rainfall has eliminated the threat of rot, but the overall dry conditions were detrimental for crop progress. Bulb size has decreased. The overall crop was in fair condition.

Sweet Corn
Fields in the windward areas of the Big Island benefited from passing showers and sunny conditions. Seedling growth was steady and rapid. Planting and harvesting were steady. On Oahu, favorable weather conditions allowed the plants to make good progress with heavy supplies available from central Oahu fields. There were some reports of light worm damage during the week. Isolated windward fields experienced some growing problems which were expected to slow harvesting.