The group’s annual tropical fruit conference this year will be held Sept. 14-16 in Honolulu at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. Contact for East Hawaii fruit growers is David Longacre at htfg.east@gmail.com or at 345-5290.
On Tuesday, Feb. 28, the East Hawaii chapter of the Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers Association will host a workshop on Federal Crop Insurance and Disaster Assistance Programs for East Hawaii fruit growers and any other interested crop producers. The workshops will be led by members of the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. The USDA Risk Management Agency provides funding for this event.
The presentation will begin at 5 p.m. at the Komohana Research and Extension Center at 875 Komohana St. in Hilo. Pupus will be provided.
Participants will learn about risk management, AGR-Lite, crop-specific USDA-RMA crop insurance products, and USDA-FSA disaster assistance programs that concern Hawaii fruit growers. Weather-related agricultural failures have hit other parts of the state particularly hard in recent years, and East Hawaii fruit growers may also be vulnerable to unusual weather events that damage or destroy crops. Vog damage may be covered by insurance, and one type of insurance will cover certain market conditions such as a drop in prices. The sign-up deadline for AGR-Lite for 2012 is March 15.
HTFG is encouraging fruit growers and other crop producers to attend to learn about what applies to their crops, what it takes to qualify, and how to apply; HTFG also notes the linkage requirement through which USDA-Farm Service Agency disaster assistance programs will only be available to growers who have crop insurance or NAP (Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program) coverage.
Interested growers should reserve a space by pre-registering not later than Friday, Feb. 24, with CTAHR representatives Didi or Perci, who can be reached at 887-6183, or via email at mddiaz@hawaii.edu. or proaque@hawaii.edu. The event is open to everyone, and attendees requiring specific aids or services should contact CTAHR representative Didi at least seven days prior to the workshop.
Growers with questions should contact CTAHR’s Stuart Nakamoto via email at snakamo@hawaii.edu or at 956-8125.
The group’s annual tropical fruit conference this year will be held Sept. 14-16 in Honolulu at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus. Contact for East Hawaii fruit growers is David Longacre at htfg.east@gmail.com or at 345-5290.