Agriculture

UH Agriculture Dean Parwinder Grewal announces the reopening of a soil testing center to help farmers impacted by the storms.

The state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity said it needs to fix a 1995 policy that allows inspectors to “inspect and release” goods with known pests if they have “light insect or disease infestation.”

Farmers across Hawaiʻi have come into focus after the recent floods have left them and their livelihoods threatened by storm damage. Different people and programs across the state have organized to help them recuperate.

Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency Administrator James Barros shares how emergency officials are preparing for possible storm impacts; Christian Zuckerman, vice president of the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation, discusses the needs of farmers in the wake of recent storms

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi shares the latest storm outlook; Ernie Lau, with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply urges customers to store water ahead of possible power outages

A new Haleʻiwa farm, owned by Pacific Gateway Center, was set to be blessed on March 19, but the Kona low storms wiped out a large amount of its crops and badly damaged the surrounding roads.

Two weeks ago Otake Camp experienced some of the worst flooding in the state from the recent Kona low storms, but so did about half a dozen other farmers who tend to about 50 acres total next door.

Agriculture advocates are warning state lawmakers that the recent Kona low storms have created a dire situation for local farmers, who need immediate assistance.

Agritourism has become a powerful tool for Hawaiʻi farmers looking to diversify their income and connect with consumers. We get more on that story from Pacific Business News Editor in Chief Janis Magin.

The state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity has approved new measures to limit the spread of coconut rhinoceros beetles on Hawaiʻi Island.