Two grant programs in Hawaii currently offer financial subsidies and on-farm educational support for battling the coffee berry borer (CBB). Local coffee farmers are already reporting CBB presence in their immature coffee cherry, making this a good time to start a spraying program against these damaging critters.
Two grant programs in Hawaii currently offer financial subsidies and on-farm educational support for battling the coffee berry borer (CBB). Local coffee farmers are already reporting CBB presence in their immature coffee cherry, making this a good time to start a spraying program against these damaging critters.
The berry borer has become a serious problem in Kona’s major cash crop over the last few years and is making coffee farming even more challenging and expensive. These grants do offer some help, however.
A SHAC (Synergistic Hawaii Ag Council) grant, made available by USDA, will help pay for spraying the fungus Beauveria bassiana that kills the beetle. In exchange for collecting some simple data on CBB infestation, growers can receive a 75 percent discount on fungus products, Botanigard or Mycotrol (organic). These products are recognized as the most consistently effective pesticides against CBB that are available at this time.
The SHAC grant will cover four treatments of one quart of concentrate per acre. There is no minimum or maximum farm size to qualify. Growers only need to attend a short training session that covers the grant procedures as well as the latest integrated pest management (IPM) techniques. To join the group receiving grant funding, farmers need to follow some basic IPM practices for dealing with CBB. They must sanitize their orchard by removing all left over coffee cherries (called raisins) from last season. They must also monitor their current cherry crop for CBB percentage and beetle location. Fulfilling these requirements will be covered in the training session.
Removing raisins breaks the beetle’s life cycle and is considered the most important IPM activity. Each raisin can contain dozens of beetles that can contaminate this year’s crop if left in the field. Ideally, coffee trees are stripped of all cherries during the last harvest round or prior to pruning.
The CBB monitoring requirement now covers 12 trees and should only take an hour per month to complete. The SHAC monitoring requirement prior to each spray helps the USDA track the efficacy of Beauveria and the timing of sprays. Monitoring is also vital for on-farm decision making about spraying. Proper application timing is key to effectively reducing beetle populations early in the season. Follow up is then required to maintain a low level of infestation. While it is probably sufficient to spray monthly, monitoring CBB numbers can discover and control sudden “surprise” increases in infestations.
The required SHAC classes are being offered at several times in the next two weeks. Attendance at one of the classes is required to qualify for the grant. On Wednesday, April 8, a class will be offered at Greenwell Farms at 4 p.m. Another is scheduled for Saturday, April, 11 at the CTAHR office in Kainaliu at 9 a.m. The final opportunity is on Wednesday, April 15, at the Hawaii Coffee mill in Honaunau at 4 p.m.. Ka’u and Hilo farmers are also eligible and can schedule trainings directly. Call 365-9041 or email info@deadcbb.com for more information.
The Kona Coffee Farmers Association has received a grant through the Hawaii Department of Agriculture that covers 50 percent of the cost of Botanigard/Mycotrol products. Each grower can purchase up to two gallons per month. Attendance at a training class is required for this grant but no monitoring is necessary. These classes will be scheduled based on grower demand. If interested, email info@konacoffeefarmers.org.
The current UH-CTAHR spray mix recommendation is one quart (32 ounces) of Botanigard or Mycotrol per acre plus a surfactant such as Widespread, Silwet or Xtend mixed in sufficient water to cover the acre depending on your sprayer. Many products have recently been added to the compatibility list and can be sprayed simultaneously. These include some foliar fertilizers, pyrethrums, Trilogy and the repellents Surround (with kaolin clay) and Garlic Barrier. Research by CTAHR shows the repellents work best in coffee when combined with Botanigard. No research has been done on compatibility results with another commonly used product called BAM (Bio Available Minerals) FX. Many farmers are spraying this soil amendment in their coffee fields, but be cautioned that this is not an insecticide and processors report high beetle damage unless this product is sprayed with Botanigard. Doubling up your workload by mixing a foliar feed and/or repellent with Botanigard makes good sense and can save you time and money during the season.
Both grants help reduce the cost of spraying Beauveria against CBB. Since many processors offer premium prices for low CBB damage, it is financially wise to spray rather than to ignore this little bug. The difference can be thousands of dollars.
Suzanne Shriner owns Lions Gate Coffee in Honaunau is the Administrator of the SHAC grant and serves on the Board of the Kona Coffee Farmers Association.
Tropical gardening helpline
Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by Certified Master Gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
Andy asks: My lemon tree’s leaves seem to be misshapen. They are curling under and look weird. Is this normal or do I have a problem. If it is a problem, what can I do about it?
Answer: Sounds like you have citrus leaf curl. It could be caused by several things. Once you identify the cause, you can proceed with a solution.
Pests like aphids, mites or thrips could be feeding on your tree’s leaves, extracting the juices and causing the curling. Check the undersides of the leaves to see if you can see any evidence of these pests. Mites and thrips are tiny and could be hard to see but if you spot any insects or their frass (poop) you should spray a soap and oil combination. A tablespoon of safer soap and a teaspoon of neem oil in a quart of water, shaken well should do the trick. Spray very early or late in the day to avoid frying the leaves. Repeat weekly until new leaves show no signs of curling.
If the leaves are yellowing, the problem may be nutritional. A soil test including the pH can give you information about what nutrients your plant needs and how to best supply them. You can also just get a complete fertilizer with N-P-K and other trace elements and apply it to the soil. Water it in and then cover the root zone of your plant with about 3 inches of mulch, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. If you can find an organic liquid fertilizer, you can get faster results by foliar spraying.
Drought stress can also cause leaves to curl while retaining their green coloration. If the soil around your tree feels dry increase your watering schedule and apply the mulch to maintain more moisture in the root zone.
Overwatering can also be a cause of leaf curl, so avoid making the soil around your tree soggy.
Sometimes leaves will curl in response to rapid temperature changes or extreme heat. Usually once the incident passes the new growth will come out without curling.
With any of these problems, you will not know if your cure is working until new leaves appear that are not curled. This may take a while. Try all of the remedies and be patient.
Gardening events
Friday: “Agritourism Workshop” from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the West Hawaii Civic Center with information about diversifying your farm income with agritourism. No fee but registration is required by Tuesday to hdoa.md@hawaii.gov
Sunday: “Art & Sol” from 12:30 to 3 pm at the Kahilu Theatre Galleries in Waimea. A benefit for Malaai Waimea Middle School Garden. $50 includes signature cocktail, wine and pupu plates. Tickets available at malaai.org.
Farmer direct markets
Wednesday: “Ho’oulu Farmers Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay
Wednesday: “Sunset Farmers Market” 2 p.m. to sunset at the north makai corner of the Kmart parking lot.
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
Sunday: “South Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
Monday–Saturday: “U-Pick greens and other produce” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tropical Edibles Nursery, Captain Cook.
Plant advice lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu, 322-4892
Monday, Tuesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Komohana in Hilo 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu,