Hawai'i Floriculture RMS & Farm Tours, July 24 - 25, 2012

The University of Hawai’i at Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) and the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) sponsored the 2012 Hawai’i Floriculture Risk Management School – Floriculture Symposium and Farm Tours on July 24 – 25, in Hilo, Hawai’i.

Day 1 took place at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo’s Campus Dining Room and included 16 presentations. These presentations included: Mr. Eric Tanouye, President of Hawai’i Floriculture and Nursery Association, Dr. Tessie Amore with an update on UH Anthurium and Dendrobium Breeding Program, Mr. Kelvin Sewake on Chemical Controls for Burrowing Nematodes on Anthuriums and Foliar Nematodes on Oncidiums and Dr. Janice Uchida on Fungal Diseases of Ornamental Crops and Potential Management Strategies, as well as many other research updates.

Event organizer Kelvin Sewake, County Extension Agent with UH Manoa CTAHR and

Team LIFE member, welcomes the 103 participants to the symposium. 

Dr. Kenneth Leohardt, UH Manoa CTAHR Extension Specialist, discusses his work on warm temperature tolerant proteas.

Participants enjoyed the symposium and gained new information.  Evaluation indicated that participants learned zero (2%), 1 to 2 (11%), 3 to 4 (27%), 5 to 9 (48%), or 10 or more things (13%) that could be applicable to their risk management operations.  Participants also benefitted by the opportunity to interact with each other.

FARM TOURS

The Farm Tours on July 25^th, included stops at Hilo Hawaiian Orchids, Lehua Greens, Greenpoint Nurseries, Inc., Newman’s Nursery and Kamaili Nursery.  Growers were treated to view production of potted and cut orchids, anthuriums, including the UH anthurium cooperator field testing trials, and cut foliage.  The Farm Tours as well as the symposium were co-sponsored by the Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association

Dr. Tessie Amore, UH Manoa CTAHR plant breeder, explains the UH anthurium selections being grown in Panaewa at a cooperator’s field.  Anthuriums are field tested and must meet stringent criteria before being named and released to the industry

Farm tour participants stopped at Greenpoint Nurseries, Inc. to view anthurium production, and the processing and packing of other cut tropical flowers and a wide variety of cut foliage.