Cover Crops

Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program
Kohala Center
NOTES from class on August 10, 2019 by Jim Crum
Presentations by Koon-hui and Amjad (for registered students):
– PAN Calculator

Prescription for Soil Health: Cover Crop Management
with Koon-hui Wang, PhD
CTAHR, Plant and Environmental Protection Services, University of Hawaii
https://cms.ctahr.hawaii.edu/wangkh/Research-and-Extension/Cover-Crops

“Insectary plants of Hawaii” $10/ or online

Basics of Soil Health Management: cover crops!
1. Cover the soil at all times
2. Grow a living root 24/7
3. Reduce soil disturbances: minimal tillage – narrow strip only 2′ wide
4. Synergism with diversity: Crop Rotation

Cover Crops
– benefits (High C/N ratio)
– Till it back in when it is rich and green, before it goes to seed and puts energy into growing the seeds

A. reduce fertilizer costs
– 30-60% of Nitrogen (if tilled in) can be available to subsequent crops
– Have and continue working on a cover crop calculator for Hawaii
– sun hemp, cowpea, lablab, yellow sweet clover, white clover, hairy vetch
– oil radish draws Ca and K up and leaches it to where next crops can get them and can grow down 5 feet
– can make Phosporus more available to plant for uptake
B. add organic matter and improve fertility
– helps infiltration and hording of water an nutrients
– Active Fraction: rich with sugar, proteins and microbial cells = release of most NPK from organic matter
– Stable fraction: rich in cellulose and lignins = real organic matter, dark content, water holding, cation exchange capacity
C. improve yields by enhancing health
– speed infiltration of surface water
– relieve compaction and improve structure
– beneficial microbial life
– enhancing nutrient cycling ensuring health soil long term
D. Pest suppression: weeds, nematodes, insects, and pathogens
– sudangrass and rye produce alleopathic compounds that provide natural herbicides
– smother and out-compete weeds for water and nutrients like buckwheat, yellow sweet
– Can reduce the need for herbicides by 25%
– clover, wollypod, vetch
– shading weeds like sun hemp
E. Prevent erosion
– up to 40% less if used before wind or rain
– no till oil radish is most efficient
F. conserve the soil moisture
G. protect water quality
– reduce nitrogen leeching

No till with roller-crimper: invented in 2003 for organic use
No till with Flail mower is a good combo

C:N ratios
Bacteria is 8:1 C:N ratio.
24:1 is ideal microbial diet
Target for composting: 30:1 to feed microbes but lease some in the soil
How to terminate cover crops: best time to terminate a legume is during the early to mid blooming stage
N release is more rapid when cover crops are plowed in

Cover Crop Chart for Hawaii: low temperature = high elevation

– Lallab, pigeonpea, sunnhemp (2-3 months then mow it in)
– stabilized organic matter (aka humus) is a sponge and can absorb 6 times its weight in water
– each pound of organic matter can hold 18-20 pounds of water

wet blade management of Guinea Grass (video)

Best Method: Mow/Till/Black Plastic (MTBP)
No-Til weed management by Joe DeFrank using flail mower, herbicide, no till drill, then weed mat to share out weeds and “Light Out” or “Turn-the-page” weed management

For compacted soils: Cover cops with Deep Roots: Sorghum-sudangrass, rapeseed, yellow sweet clover

Different cover crops for different needs:
– Dry out web soil: Rye grass
– Bring beneficial insects: buckwheat, white clover
– Reduce nematodes pests: sunnhemp, sudangrass, marigold
– add beneficial nematodes: sunnhemp

Have cover crops as your alley way, then switch the alley to the where the crops were the next year

Beneficial insects: just grow in one area and see the benefits throughout

*It can take 5 years to build soil from depleted to good soil *
BEST: Sun Hemp (30-60 pounds per acre) produces good nematodes but sometimes hard to find the good stuff locally. till stips for the plants, then cut back the other rows of sun hemp to a couple feet high and use the cuttings for mulch. It keeps white flys and solver leaf problems and pickle worms
*Buckwheat is a great one. can let it just die and timing is good compliment for things like zucchini. plant the buckwheat a month ahead of time, then till it, then plant it 2-3 weeks after seeding, then let the
maximum soil organic matter will be 5% can be tested at UH and private labs
You may need to burn the weeds to really get rid of them
a mix of 6-12 different types of cover crops is ideal because of the different benefits

Seed Rate Calibration: 10/160 method = 1 oz seeds applied on 272 ft2 = 10 pounds per acre. 272 sq ft is 1/160th of an acre.

Management of Soil Fertility and Crop Diversity
Amjad A. Ahmad, PhD
CTHAR, University of Hawaii at Manoa
alobady@hawaii.edu

Hanai’Ai Extension Bulletins Website
Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program (SOAP)
Free Publications:
– “Tea Time in the Tropics” Compost Tea Manual
– “Agroforestry Landscapes for Pacific Island“
– Newsletter
Facebook and Twitter for workshops

Sustainable vs. Organic
Sustainable includes Organic
Triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit = in balance

Organic vs. Certified Organic
Commercial farming requires certification
Synagro in Honolulu is taking human waste into the plant and processing it for weeks to break down to a chemical granulate

How much fertilizer and when? it depends upon
– crop requirements
– soil fertility status
– fertilizer characteristics
– crop peak uptake stages

Organic fertilizers usually have a much lower concentration so much more is needed. (Urea @ 46 vs. Blood Meal @ 10 for example). However the organic add additional nutrients that will not appear in the synthetic

Liquid fertilizer gives it immediately and readily available but may require an injection system (video)

Macronutrients (needed in big quantities): N/P/K/Ca/Mg/S
Micronutrients (in small quantities): Fe/CI/Zn/Mo/B/Cu/Mn
Mobile nutrients (first seen in older or lower leaves) N/P/K/Mg/Cl/Mo
Immobile (seen in younger or upper leaves): S/Ca/B/Cu/Fe/Mn/Ni/Zn

Soil and Plant tissue testing
– Soil: go below 4 inches, take from a few areas, and either send each individually or mix them together
– Tissue: University Laboratory ADSC at CTHAR or Private Lab

Rapid Testing: Minolta SPAD Meter for chlorophyll. Cardy meters
Hanna meter: pH/EC/Dissolved oxygen meter in solutions and great for hydroponic and Aquaponic

Soil food pyramid: Build it with compost (1/2) and compost (40% and organic and synthetic fertilizers at only about 10%

Soil Organic Matter requires good:Biological: Energy, Nutrients, Resilience
Physical: Stable, Water retention, Thermal properties
Chemical: Cation exchange, pH, binding to minerals

Biochar: corncob, manure, scrapped wood burned in the absence of or low oxygen> higher temp and more closed the condition the better the biochar. Any organic waste can be used for it. adds hundreds or thousands of time the surface area to make more area for nutrients to stay with the soil as it will take much longer to become saturated.Usually has a high pH so will help increase it where needed. Josiah Hunt making it from Mac Nuts but moved to California. Farmers now getting carbon credits. recommend 2% of soil weight It’s not fertilizer, but a conditioner. One application can last for a decade

Invasive algae: Ogo, Eucheuma, Kappaphycus. Important to wsa to address salt in them. dry them and kill them to ensure they dont spread. Available from volunteerst that harvest them in the ocean cleanup. or Maxicrop from the mainland

Keep a pH between 6 and 7.5
If to acid, then lime needs to be applied every three months but is only beneficial to the surface where applied

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Land Management

Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program
Kohala Center
NOTES from class on July 27, 2019 by Jim Crum

Carolyn L Wong
State Grazing Land Management Specialist
NRCS Pacific Island Area
Raising goats since 2011
From Lahaina, Maui. UHHilo, masters in range science in Utah

Grass:- bunch or sod forming. – seeds of sprigs- cool or warm season- phases: seedling, vegetative, elongation, reproductive- made of tillers (branches), tillers have leaves and roots, tiller are reproductive or vegetative, tillers start from Need both for healthy field* vegetative tillers are more nutritious and less stemy
Need the whole plant to identify type of grass. 
Mertistem: area where cell division and expansion originates. Keep this area as health and active as possible. – Apical (most important) makes leaf formation. Telescope like. The leaf factory- Intercalary is at the base of the leaf blade
Not all grasses are good for grazing (California grass). Can switch from CA to Hilo grass in a year with proper grazing. *Animals go for whatever is tastiest first so don’t leave them too long in one place so they don’t destroy the apical meristem. 
Phases:- Vegetative: most digestive and nutritions, no sheath elongation, mostly leafy – Elongation and Transition: apical meristem changes from a vegetative to a floral bud. Elevates the apical meristem- reproductive: Just before it emerges it’s at the boot stage and after 
Legumes are very digestible and high in protein. Nitrogen fixing with symbiotic N-fixing bacteria. Vetch, white clover, kaimi clover, Leucaena. Established by seed or sprig. Most N is in leaves and stems. Recycled via animal waste.- not all are good for livestock and can cause bloat or have toxins: creeping indigo, crotalaria, coffee senna
Animals: don’t try things they don’t know. Mothers teach but peers teach too. They go with what’s familiar and have post ingestive feedback to tell them if it is good for them. Watch your animals and pay attention, and decide how much risk you are willing to take. 
Forage quality: Grass is not grass or all are not created equally- depends on the animal needs- what % water- digestibility: NDF and ADF- energy, proteins, secondary compounds 
2.6% of their body weight a day in food
Take a cow from the dry to the wet, it takes a while because the rumen needs to expand. Ok to take it from the wet to the dry. 
Forage quality:- average dry matter doubles from 4 weeks to 12 weeks- forage analysis gives neutral detergent fiber (everything including ADF) and Acid Detergent Fiber: lower is better because easier to digest. ex: signal grass is lower than star grass- analyze their poop: pumpkin pie poop is preferred – protein declines as plant ages- most protein comes from the ruminant microbes
Vigor:- right amount of moisture- soil composition and fertility- insect pressures: lead hoppea, aphids- grazing pressures: deer, goats, domestic- disease: rust, – root system, stored energy, leaves, stage of growth
Most of our grasses are perennials so no need to replant- seed: guinea, white clover, kaimi clover, leicaena, – vegatariceely: 
Grazing requires sufficient residual is left to

Cows:- dry cow: no longer producing milk- dairy cows have the highest nutritional needs, especially right after the baby is born – Baby cows: start grazing after a couple months. 
Animals have a preference for guinea grass
Guinea Grass: bunch grass with tillers out of the crown. Not easy to grade out because crown is so robust. More adapted to dry environment and deeper roots. Dig it out in the wet season. Consistent mowing or grazing it out (or mowing it constantly). Young grass desirable, but old not so much
Hilo Grass: happy where it’s wet but animals think it’s sour
Vervane:
California Grass: ok in wet climate
Signal Grass: animals like it
Custer’s curse: sucks don’t want it
Someone to come out and review things: NRCS waimea Jill 885-6602 x102
Livestock = risk. If they get out and people like to sue these days. 
Grazing Animals101-600 pounds initially then 1000 -finish before 30 months of age: prime (best), choice, select – average daily gain of 2 pounds a day is good- keep for 20 months or more for marbling- more smaller animals are more profitable than fewer larger
Anatomy and physiology – Mono gastric (horse, donkey, humans, rats) or RuminantDigestion (cows, goats, sheep, deer) have 4 chambered stomachs- ruminant microorganisms give them the ability to break down the lignin. They add a protein source- stomach #1 is the rumen, pushes it to the reticulum (tripe) honeycomb, moves it to the omasum where liquids are removed, then the abomasum 
Energy for foraging goes to- maintenance (basal metabolism)— respiration— blood flow— nervous system- production— protein (meat)— fiber (wool)— lactation (milk)
Energy needs- pregnancy (3rd trimester) and lactating (highest)- males- females- castrated males (lowest)
Thermoneutral zones help ensure they stay healthy- cattle:41-68degreesF- calves:50-68- sheep: 70-88- goats: 50-68
Body condition scores for cows (1-9) used for deciding on heath and breeding
Animal Unit- 1 AU: 1 mature cow (1000lb) + 1 calf. Or 5 sheep- 1 AUD: forage needed for 1 AU for 1 day- 1 AUN: forage needed for 1 AU for 1 month
Look at what forage can be produced and do the math on how many animals can be supported.  
Holistic resource management by Savory
*Take 1/2 and leave 1/2 is the basic principal to maintain pastures.
Ideally, use a paddock in a week, 5 paddocks then move cattle, and 4 weeks of rest. This works for most of Hawaii* 1 acre in Honokaa can support about 1 cow. Probably not worth it for. 2-3 acres per horse. * Pigs: use Korean natural farming of a pen with deep base. Pig nose rings are better for pasture pigs – check YouTube!* mow if you have stuff you don’t want, give it a rest, and encourage the things you want to * if you have wordy stuff, use a chainsaw and remedy to kill it
Grazing Management 101- the manipulation of livestock grazing to accomplish he desired result. Controlling the grazing habits of animals on pasture 
Consider
A. how many and what kind of animals, performance goals
B. Pasture composition, yield, quality, health 
Factors- seasonal: – spacial: rainfall atlas online will tell you using rainfall stations in the area- physical: soils, typography, eroded areas, condition- forage growth: intensity, frequency & duration, timing. – roots: if you take off more than 50%, then roots stop growing and you lose some. – give Grass a couple (2-4)weeks to rest. 
* get a grazing stick to determine height it has marks on it for when to move to another paddock. 
Stocking- continuous set: year long same place- continuous variable: area set aside for special needs *  set rotational: each area changed every week with 4 weeks to recover. Set areas- variable rotational: 
Grazing:- first-lane: high need animals graze first – creep: offspring graze and fence lets them thru to the good stuff- strip: move fences on regular rotation.  Labor intensive!- frontal: strip grazing with only front 
Stocking Rate: unit of animal per unit area per season. 
Stock density: units of animal per unit area per unit time. 
Mob grazing: moving cows every 4 hours: high stock density. Stressful for land, and people but produces high regrowth and can rehabilitate trashes land
Carrying capacity: number of animals a pasture can handle without damaging the resource base. Determined over the long term
Forage animal balance: AU*intake rate*time=demandForage produced (lbs/acre)*grazable area*grazing efficiency=supply (lbs or AUD/AUM/AUY)

Fences: – Compression member – linger is better- Brace wire from base of the anchor post to the compression member high side- tension wire with stretcher and the come along after rolling it all the way out. – attach twists – over 20degree need a post and h braces- every 10 posts use a wooden post (rule if thumb) and make it more strong- anchor post tie off at the bottom. Brace post at the top pulling the stretcher from the compression post toward the anchor post- strand of barb wire at the bottom to keep pigs out- top wire for more strength. Barbed wire good but standard wire ok. – class 3 galvanized minimum (not 1 or 2)- should last 20 years- kiawe is king for – wire out in the side facing your animals- can go 14’ on t-posts. – animal health or Miranda’s for fencing supplies- trailer mat if trying to fence across a river/gulch- labor is at least as much as the parts- $2/foot parts- neighbors usually split the cost and if one wants a more expensive 

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Organic Certification

Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program
Kohala Center
NOTES from class on July 20, 2019 by Jim Crum
Presentations by Maile Woodhall (for registered students):
– Part 1
– Part 2

Maile Woodhall, Kohala Center
Organic certification and record keeping
Mwoodhall@kohalacenter.org
808-640-0177
– business planning
– certifications
– USDA auditor and inspector

Organic Certification
– in 2000 it became federal program
– organic certification agencies are accredited by USDA but are not part of the federal government
– exempt if making less than $5000 gross they can claim they are organic

Farm is the first step in Organic
What can be certified?
– orchard
-Row crop
– Perrienial
– Greenhouse
– Hydroponic
Types
– all organic
– split different crops
– parallel dame or similar crops
Can do just a portion

Standards: different if dealing with different countries Annual inspection required

Must have land with 36 months without use if prohibited substances (new land owners have to show history for first 3 years)

3 agencies that certify on HI
– organiccertifiers.com
– ics-intl.com
– ccof.org
Note who it is certified by on the label
Under 10 acres = $800 fee

Organic System Plan- document your organic strategy
Land: have distinct and defined boundaries and buffer zones ($25ft is standard) 
Soil: biological – cover crops, compost, animal products.
Physical – ground rock, like phosphate and greensand.
Cultural – rotations, legumes, contour plowing. Batch sampling of manure from outside sources. 

Manure: – without manure: mulch, green waste, plant manure- with raw manure: initial C:N between 25:1 and 40:1— static pile: 131-170 degrees for 3 days— windrow: 131-170 for 15 days, turned at least 5 times— edible portion no contact for 120 days before harvest, any is no soil contact for 90 days before harvest

Pest management: can use Neem, etc. use these
– Perennial peanut (weeds)
– Chicken tractors (pests)
– Organic hay (weeds)
– Shade cloth (pests and weeds)

Disease management
– clean equipment and greenhouse
– crop rotation to break disease cycles
– good drainage and water management and air flow

If using inputs, keep records on
– soil testing
– preventative practices
– collect MSDS labels
– keep receipts
– document dates of input
– proper storage of materials: locked, ventilated, dry chemicals are above the liquid

Can’t have treated fence posts installed. 
Use “Eco friendly” brand paint for treated surfaces. 

Review of substances to ensure products are organic- OMRI- WSDA

If you are unable to source organic seeds, document 3 attempts, and you can get non-organic. Non-GMO tho’. 

You need to implement and document your crop rotation plan. You can use the same crop as long as a different variety

Water: not an issue if no well or sharing of tank. Test 4x/yr for 126ppm or less generic E. coli per ml. Ag water otherwise exempt. Post harvest must be potable water.
Testing labs: microbiology consulting services in Kona 808-345-6549, Pololei Labs in Hilo 808-938-0569. 
?1oz bleach/1000gal per week?

Harvest: clean containers, common sense. Remove from field ASAP. Post harvest: what sanitizers, rinse water additives, pest control, 
DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT.

*USDA NRCS – handout about what grows where well*A place for quick questions. Forum for questions. * share with all of the grads

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Food Safety

Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program
Kohala Center
NOTES from class on June 6, 2019 by Jim Crum

Dr. Luisa Castro
Produce safety rules and GAP (good agricultural practices)
HI’s Agricultural Food Safety Program Manager
– 20 years ago worked with CTHAR
– GAPs developed for Hawaii
– funding ran out and program dropped
– FDA keeping it with Dept “Everyone should have access to healthy, safe food”

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and how it affects us in Hawaii. Came out in 2011.
– some things don’t make sense and some don’t apply to Hawaii- entire food supply, not just at
– 2016 became law
– physical, chemically, and microbial all are under review. Focus is on microbial
– GAP looks at 5 things: land use, soil amendments, ag water, domestic and wild animals, worker health and hygiene, crop protection, post harvest, traceability…
Reasons why it exists?
– e.coli for romaine lettuce from Yuma,AZ
– we are impacted in HI even though issue was on the continent
– labeling can be an issue for consumers
– it’s now hard to determine where products come from
– it’s not easy to determine where the disease comes from. .02% of the time it can be determined- produce is the last to be regulated
– 1 of 6 get sick from contaminated food each year. 128k hospitalized.
– stopfoodborneillbess.org
– farming in Hawaii is changing to small scale. 88% of farms are smaller than 50 acres.
– raw crops are dept of Ag and DOA inspectors are being trained. Health department for food prep
– 31% of outbreaks have been related to fruits and veggies

Focus in HI
– education and repairing farmers for inspections that will be coming
– FSMA Produce Safety Rule (PSR): don’t tell you exactly what to do because it’s too broad for too many
– collaborating with FDA to clarify needs
– “food safety begins on the farm” a growers guide
– 3rd party independent audits: PrimusLabs.com
 
Why do you have to comply with PSR?
– Tea and coffee are exempt
– farm: operation under one management, not necessarily in 1 contiguous location, may include pack and hold…
– are you harvesting, packing and holding RACs? If you are processing it, irradiating, then additional rules applies. If only packing and holding, you are not a farm
– exemptions
— rarely eaten raw list = coffee, tea, beans, beets, sweet potato, etc… updated regularly
— sales less than $25k/ year (in 2011) average over 3 years
— solely for your family’s consumption
— $500k for all, but majority (with records) direct to consumer
— prominently display farm name and address (POBox OK) or web site ok
— destined for commercial processing. But may need to 
– Will need to be compliant if you cause an outbreak you will have to be compliant. 

Compliance
– educational requirement: 1 supervisor must complete the one day class. If that person leaves then
– pushes out the water requirement by 4 years because it is so complex
“Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching.”
Food borne illnesses example
– mac nuts: dehydrator wasn’t getting hot enough and no alarm went off-  because items are consumed raw, much more likely. Microbial contamination on produce is extremely difficult to remove once present- bacteria cause the most issues, more than viruses. HI is the perfect climate for them.
Nasty Staff infections in Hawaii:
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/7235191/hawaii-leads-nation-in-deadly-staph-infections/

Human health and safety
– hand washing: you and workers and visitors too!
– proper use of toilet and hand washing: provide them. with toilet paper and water and soap and accessible within a 1/4 mile and cleaned regularly- sanitizers don’t work well and are last resort. Scented soaps can get on the product, so use “normal” soap and water- recognize sick workers and be sure they are not in contact with food.
– first aid kits: maintained and restocked
– break area for smoking and eating that is not in the fields 20’ away from the plants
– clean your clothes between tasks like harvesting

Water
– know your sources and distribution systems
– test your water: HI looking at providing Mobile water testing
– lowest risk is drip and municipal
– PSR has sampling rules based upon sources
– no testing of from a public water source
– GAP GM 126CFU pr less for salmonella.
– add filters and UV systems to address issues with contamination
– R1: recycled water that is sanitized 3 ways and looking at this on Oahu
Pests

Know your farm poop: start to investigate the type you see and when you see it.
– hard to control
– first ever outbreak of e.coli was because deer poop contaminated strawberries. “you pick” and petting zoos next to each other
– orchards are lower risk
– deterrents are things that move around a lot
– domestic animals can add risk
– procedure on how to deal with poop when found in the fields
– PSR rules are still being debated. Raw manure is 120 day wait for harvest and 90 day for orchards- where you see poop, create a buffer zone between you and crops and decide how to handle the contamination and document what you did.

Soil amendments
– anything added to improve plant growth
– raw manure is the most risky
– organic fertilizer may be faked so know your source
– untreated human waste cannot be used unless it meets federal standards NOP 205.203
– composting is key
– know your pesticides!
– read the labels: what’s the PPE required? Restricted Entry Interval? Pre-harvest Interval?

Harvesting
– check produce before harvest- harvest baskets must be kept clean
– sanitize equipment and tools (don’t use wood)
– use gloves? Wash hands first and have a solid policy.
– packing house clean and protected? Setup for a logical workflow? Pests under control? “Pest management systems to control rodents in and around packing sheds” sticky traps are best. Things falling from the ceiling? Avoid wooden tables. Hand washing sink separate from vegetable washing sink- clean first with clean water and detergent. Sanitize as a second treatment- once it’s all packed and ready to go, make sure it’s in a low risk spot. Off the ground and no personal stuff.
– don’t reuse other people’s boxes

Snails, slugs, flatworms and rat lungworm
– ID your slugs and snails: caterpillar or slugs fans snail
To watch for:
— semi-slug is the biggest disease carrier. About 2”, nocturnal and fast– Cuban slugs
— Giant African Snail
– Rats carry the lung work nematode and poop it out and the snails and slugs eat them but are not effected. People eat it and eat sick if it’s not cooked enough. Nematode tries to escape and causes encephalitis.
– prevent!, manage growing environment, 7:1 salt water slug jug. Ducks are great (better than chickens) for catching them. Set traps. Copper bands as barriers. Bait (afternoons or evenings) iron phosphate and sodium ferric EDTA. Go after the big ones so they don’t reproduce, then get the little ones in the spring- inspect at the packing house
– watch the weather  

* Things get trickier “after that first cut,” because if there are more cuts/processing, then you are processing and under DoH purview
*Cannot harvest produce that has had feces contamination.
* mongoose eradication: traps with fake eggs
* Scott’s ExoSense is organic commercial for slug control
* Business idea: know your pest poop app!

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Compost

Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program
Kohala Center
NOTES from class on May 25, 2019 by Jim Crum
Presentations by Norman Arancon (for registered Students only):
– Composting
– Principals of Vermicomposting
– Vermicomposting and Teas
– 2016 Vermicompost Water Extracts

Dr. Norman Arancon
UH Hilo
Been there 10 years and Ohio before that for 11 years

Vermicomposting vs composting
– $12/ pound worms are $180 here
– teaching as a course at UH but only 10 people so may be cut next year- 
Composting
– been around forever
– bin or on the ground
– Biological process

Aerobatic (requires oxygen) is what is focused on vs anaerobic (no oxygen and creates methane
– biogas and all that is left is sludge)
– biological process that requires turning to make sure every particle in it is oxygenated- controlled condition:
— nutrient balance of carbon (brown) to nitrogen (green). Critical!
— moisture content
— temperature is a byproduct of aerobic microbe activity. Not over 160degrees or they catch fire. 110-140 is normal and required by EPA for 72 hours to kill human pathogens
— air
Takes 6 weeks (minimum) to complete if you have all the right elements- turn it once a week
– air pumped into it can work

Don’t put it straight on the ground because byproducts can be viruses and such that leech into the ground. Weed mat is ok for backyard setups
If commercial, you are responsible for a salmonella, ecoli, helminth, enteric viruses, etc. outbreak and you are liable

C:N is preferred 25-30:1 Moisture is 50-60%Oxygen >6% but 16-18.5%
*apply 2 or more weeks before harvest
Whatever stream you have, work with it and try not to bring in things outside the farm
Best manure additives for Nitrogen C:N
– horse and swine is 30:1
– cattle (if from a slurry) and turkey grass clipping 19:1 but collect from
– Carbon C:N
– newsprint is 398-852:1. Soak in water and then shred it
– cardboard 563:1- sawdust and wood chips: 442:1- bark 109-130:1
– People are being composted and is more valuable than ash as fertilizer.
– Sewage is 16:1
– Melorganite
– humanure (night soil) and pasteurized and therefore the benefits of compost is gone.

Nearly all are pasteurized and especially if out of state. If pasteurized, then of little value so make your own or get local. (Sunshine hardware in Hawi has some, Hilo transfer station)
You can compost anything as long as it is got enough and covered to keep critters out. 
Moisture required to heat up. 50% feels moist but not damp
C1V1 = C2V2

Stop compost pile when it is 5’x5’x5’ and. Turn it every week for 6 weeks. 
40# bag is worth $527 pounds out of 100 pounds
Build a 4x4x4 on palettes on tarpKeep it covered until it reaches that height, then start turning it. 
Need to chop it up 1-2 inches max and covered
Precomposting (140 degrees for 72 hours of manure and to get rid of weedseeds and meet EPA requirements for manure
End products:- fertilizer (if not pasteurized)- soil conditioner- land reclamation- livestock bedding- nursery container media- disease control
Holland is best for composting and use it for reclamation
Ohio State has the gurus for composting and vermicomposting

In a teaspoon of soil have a million microorganisms.  There are a few that are bad but overwhelmed by the good
Nematodes: microscopic worms that cause a cancerous response and disfigure carrots. Compost can control nematodes. – 4 types, only one is parasitic so 
Compost tea: magnify it’s effect with a small amount and make it 10:1. – time consuming- immediate effect- less long-lasting effect compared to soil so may need to be applied weekly- “tea time in the tropics” (Ted Radovich) is free online- make in a bucket for a week without aeration, or 24 hours with aeration 
Screen compost at end of process to get the best kind
2”x 2” screening typically, but 1”x 1” is better quality 
Benefits to plants- nutrient release- produce hormones- reduce disease and parasites- increases biological activity and diversity- improve tilth and structure of soil 

*“Vermiculture Technology” book by Clive Edwards and Norman Arancon is expensive but worth a look

“I buy worms from 12 year old kid on island.” 
Typical soil
– 25% Air
– 25% water
– 5% organic matter (10% microorganisms)

Earthworms
– used to predict earthquakes when they come to the surface because of vibrations.
– have multiple hearts
– formaldehyde 100mil per gallon can be put on the soil because they are sensitive to soil
– cut them beyond 8 segments and they will live. Cut them exactly in 1/2 and they will die
– produce cocoons about the size of a mung bean. Greenish brown
– work with other microorganisms in 4-6 weeks to create soil. 
Lava takes 400 years to turn into soil. 
Types- red wrigglers with yellow tails. Not good for bait because of secretions- Indian blues have a purple sheen.  Very prolific. Highly social and leave the bin. – tenisteits. 
Mites are in the habitat and will attack the 
Waste for worms (worst to best)- chicken, turkey, duck, horse (if not dewormed), cattle, pig, rabbit- brewery, potato, paper, sewage (night soil), restaurant, food market, yard waste
Precomposte before vermicomposting – 60-75 degrees- no more than a couple inches or material on top- automated continuous flow reactors
Vermiculture  toiletshttp://www.vermicompostingtoilets.net/
To use animal feces, dissolve in water to break it down. 
“How Vermicompost affects plants” UHHilo by 
Worm Tea- ACT: aerated- NCT: do not or minimal disturbing- Home Brewer: 5 gallon bucket with a mesh bag (nylon paint strainer) over the top. Stirred occasionally to aerate- helps dramatically with germination if soaked for 1 hour but only 1-5% VC Tea. Too concentrated can become toxic- 5% to 10% Vermicompost tea is the sweet spot. 
Biochar- empty cells when they are initially deposited- absorbs everything around it as an empty cell so grabs everything. Only has value once it is full and wants to give back- add it to your composite to have it absorb there. – it’s a home to microbes and nutrients
4788 gate code
20×100 = 500(x)+15(y)
Podcast- farmer to farmer- Ted radio hour- my favorite murder- invisibilia- this American life- the illusionist- song exploder

Ag census is how we get details of crop volume and weight per acre. Utilized production. Total harvested column is what comes out net. Divide acres by pounds. Multiply by nitrogen to know how much is needed to add per acre to add enough. Assume 100 trees per acre. 
CTAHR has stats on recommended plant nutrients sufficiency values. 

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Financing

Beginning Farmer and Ranchers Development Program
Kohala Center
NOTES from class on April 27, 2019 by Jim Crum
Presentation by Jill Ficke-Beaton (for registered Students only) here
Presentation by Lester Ueda (for registered Students only) here
Presentation by Eric Bowman (for registered Students only) here

Jill Ficke-Beaton, USDA-NRCS
Soil conservationist
Acting district conservationist, Waimea service center

USDA Program to assist land owners, land managers and communities. 
– can come out at our invitation to do a site visit within a couple weeks: soils and water folks come too, process of helping takes time, getting ready for farming.
– if you have a conservation program then you can be exempt from grubbing and grading program permit requirement.
– don’t help with illegal crops- look at soil, air, water, animals, plants, energy, resources
– steer you into a program like: environmental quality incentive program,

Ag management assistance (good for beginning farmers), conservation innovation grant, conservation stewardship program, emergency watershed protection, regional conservation,  Ag conservation and wetlands reserve easements, landscape
– $450k available over 4 years with 2018 Farm bill
– mid-October cutoff for applications so do your work well ahead of this- don’t stop working to wait for funding. 
– commitment to the federal government so think carefully
– waimea has 46 applications and only one person to manage it
– it’s about sustainability and making the land usable forever. 
– have soil and (plant tissue test) by UH Extension in Waimea or Komo Hana and talk about crops you want to grow and organically so they can give 
– eligibility: control or own eligible Ag land, comply with adjusted gross income limitation, in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements, develop an NRCS EQUIP plan of operations- Ferrell pig program helped with APHIS for mitigation and cameras and 
– life span on projects: 20 years for fence, 
– 5% have a spot check every year. 
– plans are windbreak, pollinator habitat, mulch, seasonal high tunnel, cover crop, high tunnel system
– 1” of water on 1 acre requires 100,000 gallons
– 50% goes to livestock
– over $900,000 annual income is disqualified, but can still partner with others that make over that, but their portion disqualified
– you are the driver of your land system and so can decide what direction it goes- multi-species grazing can have great benefits, but sheep, horses with cows can help. Livestock should be a tool, not a burden* sustainability starts with profitability

Lester Ueda, USDA-FSACounty Executive Director
Hawai’i County FSA Office
154 Waianuenue Ave., #122Hilo, HI 96720
808-933-8381 x2
www.fsa.usda.gov

Help with non-insurance crops
– micro loans, farm ownership, operating (up to $50k @ 3.5% up to 7 years), emergency (up to $500k @3.75% within 8 months of disaster designation for 7-40 years), youth loans
– micro loan with expedited application process for annual operating expenses, supplies, farm equipment, farm vehicles, family living expenses 
– the FSA county committee (elected by farmers and ranchers) but ranchers are the ones in charge
– programs include Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance, livestock forage program, livestock indemnity program, emergency livestock assistance program, tree assistance program, emergency loans, emergency conservation program (this is used a lot)
– noninsured crop disaster assistance program (NAP): due to damaging weather or natural disaster, service fee of $325/ crop up to $825 waived for socially disadvantaged, limited resources, beginning farmers and veterans- losses have to exceed 50% and it covers 55% of revenue but can “buy up” to cover 35% loss and 100% payment 
– must annually report acreage and production and it is verified. 
– emergency assistance for livestock, honey bees, and farm-raised fish: managed hives, CCD, natural disasters, loss adjuster verifies, 
– NAP (crop insurance) deadlines: 5/1 = Nursery 9/1 = floriculture, Christmas trees, aqua culture, mushrooms, sod grass and 12/1 = forage/grass, vegetables, fruits, honey
– Emergency Conservation Program: 75% cost sharing for land cleanup from natural disasters and water conservation measures during drought. Can help with wind damage- Reporting deadlines: 9/30 = floriculture, 12/2 = honey bee colonies, 12/16 = forage* bees are considered livestock* if you don’t register/participate and apply you can’t get help* documentation is key to success

Eric Bowman
The Kohala Center Microloan Program
“Farm Capitalization”

Spend money on: Equipment @ $10000, seed and plants @ $5000, fertilizer @ $5000, building @ $10000, animals @ 
– current assists = less than a year
– capital equipment & working capital are needed. 
– cash is king to stay in business, so AP and AR are balanced to manage your inventory
– look everywhere to acquire money: friends and family, loans, selling assets, marrying well, other job l, retirement fund loan
– equity (ownership): personal savings, sweat equity, investors
– debt: customer prepay (CSA), loans, credit cards
– cost of money: investors take ownership and are there forever, loans require collateral and and interest, grants take time and administration. 
– challenges: no money for needed equipment and building. 
– most money comes from friends and family. They already trust you. Start there, then move to investors, then lenders, then customers- when asking, tie it to a milestone, put it in writing, show your own commitment, experiment on your own, don’t ask for more than they can afford to lose, communicate plan and risks, focus on well-connected friends with experience, tie repayments to revenues
– lenders:
1) start with equity from family friends and savings
2) next are micro lenders like Kiva and Slow Money
3) CDFIs like FTHF
4) government like USDA FSA and HDOA @ 3.74-4% 5) commercial like FCS and First Financial but need established operations and higher interest rate 5-7%
– Kohala Center hawaii food producers fund: kiva.org/borrow uses “social underwriting” and matches and is 0% interest and 36 month repay to all those that match too! Great for quick projects.  
– Feed the Hunger Foundation: in Honolulu   
– USDA Rural Energy for America Program: up to 25% of renewable or energy efficiency. 10/31 and 4/1 deadlines.
– Value Added Producer Grant: $75k planning or $250k working capital- htdc.org/money for 20% of hawaii-bases manufacturing aug-mar deadlines. Covers equipment, training and feasibility studies
– HIPlan Business Competition: $25k, monthly meetups, 9/7 deadline, 7-page business plan – food safety reimbursement grant: up to $5000 over 5 years FSMA deadline is application on 4/30 deadline 
– most useful: more friends and richer relatives, register for free NAP insurance, trust the government when it is good for you. 

Crooked Nail Farm- bamboo as windbreak if Malay dwarf or Fernleaf Multiplex- diversity of crops is key and plan for different times of harvest- use grafted fruit trees- avocado: add 3 cups lime, 2.5 cups 0-45-0, and a shovel of compost or chicken manure- tree shelters are good anywhere. Use 10’ hog wire and low% shade cloth- fertilize new trees regularly 4x/yr with emphasis on warmer months- K’au dwarf or Florigon mangos and Dave Frenz at 987-6455 in Hilo can help with best
* buy Stihl, Kubota, and DeWalt. Skip Ryobi and Black and Decker- diesel 
* keep your day job (50% of farmers are there)
* need more friends with money!!
* Perennial peanut. Get it from KTA