Hawaii Organic Farmers Association

Hawaii Organic Farmers AssociationTo Bee or Not to Bee -by Cheryl Ambrozic
Safe Food From Contaminated Soil?
Biodynamic Agricultural Method Shows Successful Field Research
-By Marie Mauger
One More Reason to Support Organics!
The Organic Label Will Mean: No Cloned Animals, Period
USDA Advisory Panel Sends Clear Message
Hawai’i Island Food Security Summit
October 5-6, 2007, Sheraton Keauhou Bay
HOFA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Sunday, October 7th, Keauhou Yacht Club
WANT TO JOIN THE HOFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS?

To Bee or Not to Bee
A mite infestation is laying waste to bee colonies on Oahu. There’s a good chance they’ll soon be on Maui. If that happens, much of the island’s agriculture may disappear, too. -Cheryl Ambrozic
First published in Maui Time Weekly’s May 31, 2007 issue. Reprinted with permission from author

As news of the discovery of the Varroa jacobsoni mite in honeybee hives across Oahu rippled throughout the state, waves of fear rushed through the Maui’s honeybee industry. First discovered in Manoa and Makiki in early April, the parasites have since been found ravaging honeybee colonies all over Oahu.
Tiny, blood-sucking vampires, the mites feed on the blood of honeybee adults, larvae and pupae, causing emerging bees to be deformed, weakening adult bees and slowly sapping the strength and vigor from a hive. Transferred from hive to hive, these pests threaten not only the health of managed and feral honeybee hives and this sweet industry, but also the health of many of our food crops.
“Looks like we’re screwed,” was Maui beekeeper Dennis Morihiro’s summation of the news. A commercial beekeeper on Maui for the past 20 years, Morihiro owns Tropical Apiary Products of Maui with his daughter Courtney.
First discovered in bee colonies in Wisconsin and Florida in 1987, within a year the parasite appeared in 12 states and has spread throughout the continental U.S. The parasites have since destroyed many beekeepers’ hives and wild honeybee colonies across the mainland.
Rapidly spreading worldwide like a flame in a dry field, Hawai‘i was one of the few places where the mite was not found—until now.
Maui County apiarists are somewhat of a secret society. Beekeepers are not registered or certified in the state. As frequent victims of agricultural theft, beekeepers protect their hives and equipment from bee bandits by not making their locations public information. But Dennis and Courtney agreed to speak with me.
Down an old Kahului alley, sized for a 67-inch Model T Ford, is Dennis Morihiro’s house—the same one he grew up in. Stacks of disassembled beekeeping frames, assorted bee keeping equipment and straggler honeybees buzzing around pretty much give away the location. Inside, the three of us sat at the kitchen table adorned with a bottle of their Christmas berry honey glowing amber in the morning light.
“These mites will change beekeeping in Hawai‘i forever,” Dennis told me as he described the arduous steps needed to control mites once they infect managed hives. Mitigation is expensive, labor-intensive and time-consuming, requiring regular and heavy applications of pesticides. And that means the end of organic honey.

Close up view of Varroa Mite

Currently in Hawai‘i, the only permitted pesticide for killing mites is Apistan. But according to Neil Reimer, the Plant Pest Control Branch Chief with the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, this is just a temporary band-aid. “Mites have developed resistance to Apistan on the mainland, and will also in Hawai‘i,” he said.
Morihiro owns hundreds of hives across Maui. If the varroa mite reaches the Valley Isle, the increased workload makes Dennis wonder if it’s worth staying in business.
“This is very scary,” Courtney nervously told me. “We feel helpless, like parents watching their kids fall down. You want to stop it, but you can’t.”
Maui County appears safe for now. In May, Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture Entomologists surveyed Morihiro’s hives and various apiaries on Molokai and found no varroa mites. While relieved, Dennis and Courtney have little faith the Department of Ag will be able to contain the mites on Oahu.
No one really knows how the mites first came to Oahu. Infested ships and shipments of bees through Hawai‘i are possible sources, though state law does not allow the importation of bees or used beekeeping equipment. Anyone caught smuggling pays heavy fines. But there’s inadequate inspection for cargo coming into Hawai‘i and the federal government allows the trans-shipment of bees through Honolulu from areas like New Zealand, where the varroa mite is already well-established.
In the last decade, tourists have made it from the mainland to here with bees in their pockets. In response to the discovery of the varroa mite across Oahu, the Dept. of Ag’s Plant Quarantine Branch issued a quarantine order preventing the inter-island movement of bees and beekeeping equipment.
“It only takes one infested bee to fly off from the shipment of packaged bees to create problems,” Courtney said. “There are many instances where people and packages are slipping through the cracks.”
There is no question the varroa mite will have a devastating effect on feral honeybee populations. “The varroa mite will attack feral honeybees, too,” Reimer of the Department of Ag said. “The mite has killed about 95 percent of the feral honeybee colonies in the mainland.”
Knowing that honeybees are an introduced species—even considered an invasive species—many native Hawaiian plant experts don’t necessarily consider this bad news.
Honeybees, Apis mellifera, arrived on Oahu in the 1850’s. Beekeeping became popular in the 1890’s, primarily to support the new cattle ranching industry. Needing feed to sustain large cattle populations, ranchers identified kiawe as a good source of food. To increase kiawe bean yield, they established honeybee hives near ranching operations to promote pollination. The kiawe forests quickly spread due to the bees’ busy work.
Spreading invasive species is one reason native plant experts don’t necessarily support honeybees here. Another is that honeybees negatively impact native Hawaiian Hylaeus, or “yellow face” bee populations.
“While honeybees pollinate a few plants that were originally bird-pollinated, where the birds are now extinct or highly restricted, as far as Hawai‘i’s native species are concerned, honeybees are overwhelmingly bad for native ecosystems,” said Karl Magnacca, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley and an expert on native Hawaiian Hylaeus.
“Hawai‘i’s native ‘yellow face’ bees are solitary bees and do not form colonies,” said Patrick Alridich, a graduate student at the Department of Zoology University of Hawai‘i, Manoa studying the pollination systems of dry forests on the Big Island. “Thankfully, this means the varroa mite won’t effect on native bees; the varroa mite is highly adapted to live in the social conditions of honeybees. The females, depending on species, nest either in wood and twigs or in the ground. They do not make honey. They collect pollen that is used to line the nest and feed the young.”
Honeybees are nectar-robbers on a lot of native plants—they take the nectar without pollinating the plant.
“Honeybees have long tongues that can reach a lot deeper in a flower than the short-tongued native bees,” Magnacca said. “They also have stronger jaws and will cut a hole at the base of a flower that’s too long for their tongue, so they can still get at the nectar. The end result is that there’s nothing left for the native bees that would be doing the pollination.
“The Hylaeus almost never visit non-native plants,” he added. “If an area is dominated by aliens, you won’t find native bees. And they also seem to require multiple kinds of plants, so if there’s just a lot of ‘ohia or naupaka along with a bunch of alien plants—which is often the case in dry forest and coastal areas—you won’t find [native] bees even though those are two of their favorite flowers.”
This serves as another blatant reason to protect the last few intact endangered native Hawaiian ecosystems on Maui. Anna Palomino, a native plant expert who owns Ho‘olawa Farms in Haiku, one of the island’s largest native plant nurseries, can attest to this. “I have observed honeybees on many natives such as ‘ohia, nehe, naio and a‘ali‘i,” she said.
Honeybees can also spread invasive plant species, which alters ecosystems. “Honeybees are doing a whole hell of a lot of pollination for bee-dependent invasive plants like strawberry guava,” Magnacca told me. “A lot of those are totally dependent on bee pollination in their native range, and probably wouldn’t be so weedy in Hawai‘i if honeybees weren’t around to pollinate them. On top of directly competing with native bees for nectar and pollen, they also help destroy their habitat and replace it with one that only the honeybees can use.”
According to UH researcher Aldrich, habitat fragmentation and loss, decline of native plant populations, loss of wood boring beetles (for nests), introduced ungulates and introduced ants—basically the typical culprits for species decline on islands—have all contributed to the trouble facing native yellow face bees. Half of them are endangered or already extinct.
While you can argue that the loss of the honeybees in Hawai‘i could have a positive effect on the native species and ecosystems, it’s also true that honeybees play a critical role in pollinating many of our food crops.
Honeybees are recognized as the single most important and efficient insect pollinators of food plants on earth. Healthy bees are essential for crops that require honeybees for pollination.
Not only do honeybees efficiently pollinate invasive species like strawberry guava, miconia, kiawe and eucalyptus, they also efficiently pollinate strawberries, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, coffee, macadamia nuts, avocados, mangos, lilikoi and coconut, as well as many palms and flowers. These crops depend on feral honeybees for propagation.
If the varroa mite makes it to Maui and infests our wild honeybee colonies, it’s possible we can say goodbye to a substantial portion of Maui’s agriculture industry. The alternative—as is now the case in the mainland where the mite has wiped-out the feral colonies—commercial hives will have to be loaded on trucks and driven around to pollinate agriculture crops.
“The only way to keep them [the mites] out of Maui County is to do 100 percent inspection of all inter-island vessels for swarms of bees or used bee equipment including all cargo shipments, cruise ships and the Superferry,” Dennis Morihiro said. He added that on two occasions he’s had to remove swarms of bees from the decks of inter-island cruise ships.

Beekeepers who suspect that bees in their hives have the varroa mite are asked to contact HDOA as soon as possible at 973-9530 (Oahu) or the state’s toll-free hotline at 643-PEST (7378).
Safe Food From Contaminated Soil?
Biodynamic Agricultural Method Shows Successful Field Research
-By Marie Mauger

Many farmers and consumers are unaware that persistent organochlorine pesticides (POPs), such as DDT, are active in our soils and still a health issue many years after their sale in the United States was banned. The situation remains critical because most agricultural ground has been exposed to POPs at some time, cropping and treatment histories are notoriously inaccurate, and there is a long breakdown time for toxins in untreated soil – about eighty years for DDT.
It is important to address this serious challenge because of the damaging effects these hidden pesticides can have on humans as well as the environment. Today, DDT and its metabolites are still found in virtually every breast milk sample that is tested. Cancer, decreased fertility, stillbirths, neurological abnormalities, liver damage, and impaired immune function are all linked to DDT. We need a safe, sustainable, inexpensive, and effective method to (1) reduce pesticide concentration in soils, and (2) help prevent pesticide uptake in crops. The following results of a one-year study indicate that biodynamics meets all of these criteria.
Soil tests on my farm in Hawaii in 1999 indicated high levels of DDT contamination. I set up a duplicable field study to investigate pesticide exchange between soil and food, in particular beets (which take up pesticides readily) and green beans (which take up pesticides less readily). After a year of field research (2005–2006), the measured results showed that the biodynamic agricultural method of Rudolf Steiner successfully reduced both pesticide accumulation in beets and persistent pesticide concentration in the soil more than other agricultural methods that were used. None of the beans in any of the plots showed detectable DDT uptake.
Like many other organic methods, biodynamics uses compost, cover crops, crop rotation, companion planting, and appropriate soil cultivation. What makes biodynamic protocols unique is the use of nine specially prepared compost and soil amendments, which are made from common herbs and natural materials such as chamomile, dandelion, cow manure, and quartz crystal dust. These act as a catalyst to ignite life-giving, formative forces of nature in the soil and, therefore, also in plants. In addition, biodynamic farmers often work with a planting calendar based on the planetary movements and rhythmic cycles of the earth. Each farm also strives toward the ideal of producing all inputs on the farm itself.
My research consisted of a field test of 16 identical 10' x 10' plots set up with four different agricultural treatments and four replicates of each treatment. The treatments were called Biodynamics, Biodynamics plus High-Lignin Compost, High-Lignin Compost, and Control.
The results of the test study are encouraging for those who plan to use biodynamics, whether to clean up the soil or provide safe, nutritious food. All four replicate groups, including the control treatments, demonstrated reduced pesticide concentrations in the soil. All treatments also showed pesticide accumulation in the beets. For each treatment the average reduction of pesticides in the soil was as follows: Biodynamic, 81%; Biodynamic/Lignin; 72%; Lignin, 57%; and Control, 53%. For each treatment, the average uptake of DDT in the beets was as follows: Biodynamic, 0.0002 ppm; Biodynamic/Lignin; 0.001 ppm; Lignin, 0.002 ppm; and Control, 0.004 ppm. These outstanding conclusions match other reports suggesting that the dynamic method of Rudolf Steiner can reduce if not eliminate the harmful effects of pesticides within two to three years.
I have spoken with at least 15 farmers in my area who are growing organically or are oriented toward sustainable production. Few are aware that the former pineapple or sugarcane land they are farming is likely contaminated with varying levels of persistent pesticides. At the time of my inquiry, none had tested the soil or produce for toxicity (possibly because testing costs from $150–$250 per sample). Yet many of these growers plant and sell crops of concern, such as ginger, turmeric, taro, sweet potatoes, beets, and carrots.
Although a small experiment, the preliminary study showed results that are likely to be of great interest to farmers and other researchers. The need to resolve the hazards of soil pollution is now. In addition to indications of such in this research, the benefits of biodynamics in other aspects of agriculture are well documented. At an annual materials cost of approximately $30 per acre, biodynamics is indeed an inexpensive, safe, sustainable, and effective method of restoring vitality and life to our soils and our food.

Marie Mauger offers a 28-day intensive training in biodynamic farming at Spirit of the Earth Farm (or Uhane Aina) on Kauai. Contact Marie at mariemauger@yahoo.com or PO Box 416, Anahola, HI 96703.

Full article first published in Biodynamics, Winter 2007 – Number 259 (available at www.biodynamics.com); condensed and revised for HOFA.

One More Reason to Support Organics!
The Organic Label Will Mean: No Cloned Animals, Period.
USDA Advisory Panel Sends Clear Message

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), an expert advisory panel to the USDA’s National Organic Program, has made it clear that organic agriculture should not allow the use of cloned animals or their offspring in the production of organic food. The NOSB voted at their spring meeting in Washington, DC to exclude cloned animals, their offspring, and any food products from cloned animals from the organic sector.
“This is a victory for farmers, consumers and retailers who want to protect organic food and agriculture from a highly controversial and experimental technology,” said Will Fantle of The Cornucopia Institute, a farm policy and organic watchdog group. “This vote seeks to plant a flag squarely in the center of the organic food sector, declaring it off limits to cloning while providing consumers a clear choice in the marketplace,” Fantle added.
The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced last December that they were ready to approve the commercialization of cloning in livestock agriculture and indicated that they would not seek any identifying labels on cloned meat, dairy and other food products sold in the nation’s grocery stores.
During its three-day meeting, NOSB members wrestled with language aimed at keeping cloning out of organics. Kevin Engelbert, vice-chair of the NOSB’s Livestock Committee and an organic dairy farmer from the state of New York, pressed hard for immediate and decisive action on the controversial technology. During the Board’s deliberations, Engelbert said “This is the time to make a strong statement.” He offered precise language that was adopted by the NOSB to address cloning and the issue of offspring from cloned animals.
The Board’s recommendation provides guidance to the National Organic Program’s administrator who stated more than once during the meeting that the NOP wanted advice from the Board on how to address cloned offspring and their food products in the organic sector. “The NOSB’s vote offers exactly that guidance”, stated Fantle. “It calls for excluding all progeny of cloned animals and their ‘succeeding generations’ from organic livestock production as well as prohibiting any food products derived from animals produced with cloning technology.”
The 12-0 vote (with one abstention) occurred after the NOSB heard public comments over three days from numerous representatives of farm, consumer, retail and non-profit groups calling for the cloning ban in organics. Cornucopia also presented the Board with a letter signed by 70 retailers and farm groups from across the country that supported a cloning ban.
Jim Riddle, former chair of the NOSB and author of a cloning report for the Organic Center, was pleased with the recommendation. “I am gratified to see that the NOSB has voted to prohibit cloned animals, their products, and their progeny from organic agriculture,” Riddle said. “Cloning,” added Riddle, “has no place in organic agriculture. As the FDA’s own report shows, cloning is still very experimental with a high failure rate, it’s inhumane and totally unnatural.”
Representatives from the Center for Food Safety, Consumers Union, and the Organic Consumers Association were among those testifying in favor of a cloning ban in organics.
The action by the NOSB will likely add further support to a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate by Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) that would outlaw the use of cloned animals and their offspring in organic food production. The bill, S536, is currently in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

The Cornucopia Institute is dedicated to the fight for economic justice for the family-scale farming community. Through research, advocacy, and economic development, our goal is to empower farmers both politically and through marketplace initiatives. www.cornucopia.org

Hawai’i Island Food Security Summit October 5-6, 2007, Sheraton Keauhou Bay

Tentative Schedule: (Subject to change and inclusion of additional speakers)

Friday, October 5: “Exploring Agricultural Policy for The Future of Food, Farming, and Ag Education Opportunities on Hawai’i Island.”
Hosted by UH Hilo Agricultural/Forestry Dean, Bill Steiner and invited stakeholders, decision and policy makers. Presentations and Conversation.

Saturday, October 6: “Hawai’i Island Food Security Summit”
UH Dean, Bill Steiner will host a day long conference for the general public which will explore issues, raise awareness, and provide ideas and direction for future Food Security for Hawai’i Island focusing on Education, Marketing and Distribution, Land and Policy Support, The Home Producer, Traditional and Modern Sustainable Agricultural Systems, and Our Vanishing Food Producers, as well as knowledgeable and inspiring plenary sessions by agricultural leaders.

Saturday, October 6, 4-6 pm: “Haumea’s Garden – A Local Food Exposition” of Hawai’i Island Producers and supporting agricultural organizations and institutions.
Meet the Farmers/Producers and those who support agricultural initiatives.

Saturday, October 6, 6-8pm: “Foods of the New Ahu’pua’a”
Hosted by Slow Food Hawai’i and special guests. A very special island meal (Buffet Style) featuring fresh foods of Hawai’i Island. Open to the entire community. Meet the farmers.

Saturday, October 6, 8-10pm: “Keoki Kahumoku and Friends”
Concert to Benefit Youth Agricultural Programs on Hawai’i Island.

Tickets for the Summit, the Buffet Dinner, and the Concert will be sold separately.
The Kohala Center will oversee registration and tickets.

HOFA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 KEAUHOU YACHT CLUB
Right down the road from the Food Security Summit!
Details To Be Announced
Event will include morning speaker(s), general business meeting, election of Board Directors, lunch, and possible farm tour.
Open to the public!

WANT TO JOIN THE HOFA BOARD OF DIRECTORS?

If you're PASSIONATE about ORGANICALLY GROWN PRODUCTS
in HAWAII, consider running for HOFA'S Board of Directors.

Directors serve two year terms and are elected at annual membership meetings.
The 2007 annual membership meeting will be held in Keauhou on October 7, 2007.

You do not need to be present to run.

If you or someone you know is interested, please submit your name, contact information, and a brief biography of why you would make a good addition to the HOFA Board to the office for review by the Nominating Committee no later than September 1, 2007.

According to the HOFA bylaws, to avoid a conflict of interest, producers who are currently certified by HOFA are not eligible to serve on the Board.

We especially seek representation from Maui County as we have none at this time.

Mahalo, the Nominating Committee of HOFA

ADVERTISEMENTS FROM JUNE 2007 ISSUE

ROOM TO GROW ON KAUAI

Organic farm needs 1-2 workers who LOVE plants! Camp site in sunny Moloa’a offered in exchange for 10 hours/week maintaining fruit & nut orchard. For further info email wisevalentine@gmail.com or call Patti Valentine at 808-652-0433.
J

FREE! HAWAII ORGANIC
MARKETPLACE

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Your ad will appear for 3 months and may easily be renewed.

Send your information to us: hofa@hawaiiorganicfarmers.org

Please include contact information, location, and all appropriate details.
J

NEW! Big Island Bananas poster
To view and order online: www.hawaiifruit.net
20 x 24 inches for $20, includes shipping.
Very informative, full color photographs.
Great for personal or classroom use.
J

Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (HOFA)
P.O. Box 6863, Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 969-7789 Fax: (808) 969-7759
Email: hofa@hawaiiorganicfarmers.org
Copyright 2002