Robin ShimabukuCTAHR - Maui CountyCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human ResourcesUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa

VISION OF CTAHR -MAUI COUNTY’S PROGRAMS AS IT RELATES TO CTAHR’S STRATEGIC PLAN

Outline of Presentation• Brief background of Land Grant Institutions and Cooperative Extension Service.• CTAHR Strategic Plan• Goals and Objectives

• Discussion of individual programmatic goals and plan of work• Maui County’s Outreach Educational Programs

• Proposed plan for Agriculture Experiment Stations

Background of Land Grant Institutions and Cooperative

Extension Service

• In Hawaii, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) is the land grant college of University of Hawaii at Manoa. • CTAHR is one of 74 land grant institutions throughout the USA. • Land grant institutions were established as a result of the

Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890.

• In 1914, the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) was created by Congress’s enactment of the Smith-Lever Act. • Its role is to serve as the outreach educational arm of the land

grant colleges. • The mission the CES is to help people improve the quality of

their lives through an educational process that used scientific knowledge to address issues and needs of our stakeholders.

College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources –Maui County Proposed Plan

•CTAHR’s Strategic Plan 2005 – 2010.• Four Programmatic goals and respective objectives1. Provide an Excellent and Relevant Student-Centered

Learning Environment.

2. Diversify and Strengthen the State’s Economy.

3. Protect and Enhance the Environment and Hawaii’s Resource.

4. Strengthen Families and Communities.

Goal 1. Provide an Excellent and Relevant Student-Centered Learning Environment

Objectives• Strengthen CTAHR’s academic programs.• Recruit and maintain a diverse and high-quality student population.

• In 2014, the University of Hawaii - Maui College’s enrollment is approximately 4,400 students, which exceeds the population of the neighbor island community colleges, including UH-Hilo. • UH - Maui College has an ag program where students can obtain an

Associate Degree in Agriculture. Many of these students want to transfer to UH Manoa to continue their education. • Currently, many of the credit hours are not transferrable.• At present, Maui College has a Memorandum of Agreement with Oregon

State University and UH-Hilo which allows Maui College’s Ag Program credits to be transferred, so these students end up attending UH-Hilo or Oregon State University.• CTAHR should work with Maui College to develop a Memorandum of

Agreement, so their students can transfer their credit hours to UHM.

Goal 2. Diversity and Strengthen the State’s Economy

Objectives• Provide knowledge and technologies to generate and improve products and processes for existing and expanded markets.• Provide technical and business management assistance and training to support business growth and development.

Goal 2. Diversity and Strengthen the State’s Economy

• This goal is the fundamental responsibility of CTAHR –Promoting diversified agriculture in the State of Hawaii.• Presently, approximately 85-90% of the food consumed in

Hawaii is imported.• Food Security is a large concern for Hawaii. If food imports

into Hawaii were stopped because of a natural disaster or global event, according to State estimates, we have enough food for only 4 days.• To increase the sustainability of Hawaii’s food system, CTAHR

needs to promote import substitution through increased agriculture production from our large corporate farms to small conventional and organic farms.• Urban agriculture programs and small backyard growers can

also contribute significantly to our food production.

Goal 2. Diversity and Strengthen the State’s Economy cont.

Maui County Outreach Education Programs

• Beginning Farmer Program on Molokai.• The purpose of this is to train homesteaders in farm production and

management.

• Improve Economic Opportunities in the Production of Fruit and Vegetables on Molokai and Lanai.• To increase the competitiveness of farmers growing fruits and vegetable

crops by conducting field demonstrations on improving crop production and irrigation management as well as market education.

• Edible Crops Program on Maui – • That address pest management issues ie. Improving the Efficacy of

Pesticide Sprays, Management of Iris Yellow Spot Virus on Bulb Onions in Hawaii and Diamondback Moth Resistance Management Program.

• Urban Horticulture – Master Gardener Program – teach home gardeners about vegetable and fruit production in the home garden.

Goal 2. Diversity and Strengthen the State’s Economy cont.• Another priority area important to the sustainability of Hawaii is

the development of alternative energy resources.• In Hawaii, 90% of all the energy consumed is from imported

fossil fuels.• The State of Hawaii heavy reliance on fossil fuels making us

very vulnerable to sudden disruption in supply from oil tankers and can pose a severe threat to our ocean and shoreline resources if an oil spill occurred.• In recent years, Hawaii has begun to reduce our reliance on

fossil fuels and have implemented alternative energy resources such as geothermal and wind power.• Among the most promising energy alternatives of Hawaii’s

renewable energy resource is production of bio-fuels including ethanol and biodiesel from plant oils.• Presently, CTAHR in partnership with HC & S is investigating the

feasibility of bio-fuels grown in different environmental conditions on Maui.

Goal 2. Diversity and Strengthen the State’s Economy cont.

• Another strategy to help diversify the State’s economy is the production of high value specialty crops and value-added products for niche markets.• Farmers interested in developing value added products, are

encouraged to work with Maui College - Food Innovation Center. The State provided $1.2 million to develop the program and the center functions as a food business incubator, providing space and equipment to local farmers and ranchers for research development and small-scale production of value-added food products.

Outreach educational program addressing this need is the Low Chill Peach Variety trials being conducted Statewide. Peaches and other temperate fruit crops can now be grown as a result of the success of Area-wide Fruit Integrated Pest Management Program.

Goal 2. Diversity and Strengthen the State’s Economy cont.The agriculture sector in Hawaii is continuing to diversify.

(Statistics of Hawaii Agriculture 2011).

• The #1 commodity by value in diversified agriculture is Seed Crops Industry with a value of $243 million. • Flowers and Nursery Products Industry ranks #2 by value

($69.6 million)• The cattle industry is 3rd with a value of $38 million.• The 4th , 5th and 6th ranked commodities are Aquaculture,

Macadamia nuts, and coffee, respectively.• The Vegetable and Melon Industry ranks 7th with a value of

$28.8 million. • Fruits rank 8th and have a value of $22 million.

Goal 2. Diversity and Strengthen the State’s Economy cont.

• We need to continue to promote integrated research and extension projects to support diversified agriculture industries in Hawaii to increase profitability for our farmers and ranchers, and increase food security by reducing our reliance on imported agriculture products.• Due to the high value of the cattle industry and large

ranchland acreage in Maui County, the priority staffing for Maui County is the Livestock Agent position. • Maui County has approximately 170,000 acres of ranchland and

excess of 200 cattle ranchers.

Goal 2. Diversity and Strengthen the State’s Economy cont.

• Other areas that help diversify the State’s economy is the Ornamental and Floriculture Industries. • Hawaii also relies on the beautification of urban environment as

an attraction for the tourist industry, which serves as the economic engine for Maui County and the State. So, the landscape and turf industries indirectly supports the tourist industry, by providing and maintaining the beautiful landscapes at hotels, condominiums, homes, visitors’ attractions, shopping areas, office buildings, parks, golf courses, sport fields, and roadways.

• Maui County Outreach Education Programs• Educational and Research Programs for the Landscape and Golf

Course Industries on Maui and Lanai.• Floriculture Program

Goal 3. Protect and Enhance the Environment and Hawaii’s Resource

Objectives• Provide knowledge and technologies to improve the management of Hawaii’s resources to support agricultural production and enhance the environment.• Develop and deliver information and technologies to mitigate pest and invasive species that threaten agricultural, natural and urban ecosystems and the economy.

Goal 3. Sustain, Protect and Manage Hawaii’s Natural Resources and Environment. Cont.

• In Hawaii, we have a unique ecosystem, due to our physical isolation being 25oo miles from the mainland and year-round mild environmental conditions. • Invasive species has been described as “single greatest threat to Hawaii’s economy and the natural environment”.• Invasive species cause millions of dollars in crop losses, extinction of native species and the destruction of our native forests.• Despite federal and state regulations, ~20 new species become established in Hawaii every year.• Some of the recent pest that have made a significant impact on

Hawaii’s environment and ag industries are the coqui frog, erythrina gall wasp, little red fire ant, nettle caterpillar, coffee berry borer, basil downy mildew, and the Iris Yellow Spot Virus on onions.

• The priority is aimed at eradication of the newly introduced invasive species.

Goal 3. Sustain, Protect and Manage Hawaii’s Natural Resources and Environment. Cont.

• Another priority of CTAHR is to promote harmony between agriculture and the environment.• We need to promote more integrated research and extension

projects to provide knowledge and develop technologies to improve the management of Hawai'i's resources to support agricultural production and enhance the environment.• The program will strengthen our capabilities in management of

agricultural and natural resources, and manage the impacts of human activities in our ecosystems and mitigate environment and waste management problems.• Research and extension projects include agricultural waste

management, range management, nutrient management, soil erosion, soil quality, biological diversity and water quality.

Maui County Outreach Educational Programs

• The project targeting the control of invasive species in the forest is the Herbicide Ballistic Technology project using herbicide in a gel cap paintball for the control of Miconia, an ornamental invasive species. Presently, Miconia is found in approximately 37,000 acres in east Maui.• Best Management Practices for the sustainable Productivity of

Hawaii’s Range and Pasture Lands.- Biocontrol of the Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) with Secusio extensa, a lepidopteran caterpillar.• Building soil health and reducing dependence on imported fertilizer

through the use of recycled local soil amendments.

In Maui County, I would suggest the urban horticulture program work in collaboration with Maui Invasive Species Council and provide more community outreach education in detection, identification and management of invasive species. For example, the little red fire ant poses a serious threat to people of Maui County.

Goal 4. Strengthen Families and Communities

Objectives• Improve the health and wellness of Hawaii’s families and communities.• Promote resiliency and well-being in Hawaii’s individuals, families, and communities.• Strengthen individuals, families, and communities in resource management, leadership development and community action.

Goal 4. Strengthen Families and Communities• CTAHR strengthens Hawaii’s families in the rural and urban communities by providing assistance in areas of family health, financial and time management, youth development, parenting and caring for the elderly.

• CTAHR needs to continue to promote outreach educational programs that integrate research, extension and instruction projects to promote resiliency and well-being in Hawaii’s individuals, families and communities and strengthen their resource management, leadership and community action.

• These programs will provide focus on children and youth, improve the ability of Hawaii’s families and communities to meet the needs of the growing elderly population, develop leadership and volunteer capacities of individuals and communities to take action for the public well being.

Maui County Outreach Educational Programs• Aging & Intergenerational Programs • Defined as activities or programs that increase cooperation, interaction or

exchange between any two generations. They involve the sharing of skills, knowledge, or experience between old and young." • Powerful Tools for Caregivers?

Powerful Tools for Caregivers education program for family and friends caring for older adults who have stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease or similar long-term conditions. The class provides family caregivers with the skills and confidence to better care for themselves while caring for others.

• 4-H Youth Development Program• 4-H assists young people in developing life skills and in forming attitudes that will

enable them to become self-directed, productive, and contributing members of society.

• 4-H reaches approximately 35,000 young people annually throughout the State of Hawaii.

• Safe and Healthy Foods for Families and Communities• Nutrition Education for Wellness• A statewide program that promotes nutrition and food safety education for the well-being

of families and communities.

• Farm Food Safety • Consist of coaching farmers on good agricultural practices that eliminate sources of

human and animal pathogens on a farm.

• Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program• A statewide project which offers group consumer nutrition life skills education for low-

income families with young children,

Proposed Plan for the Maui County’s Agriculture Experiment Stations

• Background Information• The Maui Agricultural Research Center, also known as Kula Experiment

Station – • The 23 acre property is located on the western slopes of Mt. Haleakala at an

elevation of 3000 ft.

• Houses three fiberglass greenhouses (total: 3,360 square feet); 2 fiberglass-roofed structures with open sides (total: 3,200 square feet); and a saran plastic shade house (8,000 square feet).

• The station has three laboratories, two of which are not being utilized. • One is the bio-tech laboratory and the other is a general lab.

• Other research substations on Maui• Kula Ag Park Research Substation located in the Kula Agricultural Park.• The 7 acre property has an elevation of 1300 ft.

• Haleakala Station – 28 acre parcel is located in Makawao at an elevation of 2100’• The annual rainfall in this area is 79 inches/year.

• Kahului CES Urban Garden Center

• Molokai Research and Demonstration Farm• Elevation 375 ft., 10 acres, and annual rainfall 18-25 inches/year.

Some of On-going projects include:• Breeding program to develop small protea plants for the potted

plant industry.

• Biofuel project

• Biocontrol of fireweed (Senecio madagasrsceriensis) with a lepidopteran species (Secusio extensa) project

• Head Cabbage insecticide field experiment for the control of the Diamondback Moth

• Long Eggplant variety trial

• Low-chill Peach variety trial

• Onion Insecticide spray rotation field experiment for the control of onion thrips on bulb onions.

• Tea project – distribution of planting material to commercial growers

• Tomato Field Experiment

• Diamondback Moth Resistance Management Program

• Herbicide efficacy evaluation experiments for the control of weeds in the landscape and goosegrass control on golf courses.

Vision for the Maui Agricultural Research Center

• Expand the facility into a Statewide Vegetable/Flower Research Center.• The facility would be able to accommodate 2-3 faculty

(research and extension specialist) that would be able to work at the station and conduct research project in different environmental conditions on Maui. • Two laboratories (one biotechnology lab and one regular) are

available to for use.

Thank You !!!