"Entre-manure-ship"
For generations we have been treating livestock manures as burdensome "wastes."  
Rediscover what your grandparents knew about the value of these rich organic fertilizers and learn how to integrate them into your profitable crop, landscaping, or nursery operations. This session will feature Dr. Marc Buchanan, an experienced agricultural consultant and researcher from California, who will share practical, "real-world" experiences about the soil and crop benefits of manures and composts in production agricultural operations.  Additionally, you will learn how to avoid potential concerns with food safety regulations, odors and material handling.

Moderator: Carl Evensen, Extension Specialist, CTAHR/CES, University of Hawaii

Speaker:

• Marc Buchanan, Private Agricultural Researcher-Consultant, Buchanan Associates

A Strategic Transformation - Fruit Fly Suppression and Irradiation
Envision Hawaii free of fruit flies. What are the possibilities? ... Expanded import and replacement crops? ...New export opportunities to winter markets on the mainland and beyond? The production possibilities are near limitless, provided we make the shift and apply modern technology to tackle these pests. Today, the building blocks are being laid, with the highly successful Hawaii Area Wide Fruit Fly Integrated Pest Management Program, which drastically reduces fly populations through field sanitation, protein baiting, male annihilation, and sterile fly and parasite releases. Couple this with proposed post-harvest sterilization facilities on Oahu, and farmers will have tremendous new opportunities. The best news is this shift is happening today. Are you ready to respond and grow your business?

Moderator:

• Dennis Gonsalves, Director, USDA-ARS, Pacific Basin Agriculture Research Center (PBARC)

Speakers:

• Eric Jang, Research Entomologist, USDA Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center (PBARC)
• Roger Vargus, Area Wide Coordinator, USDA Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center (PBARC)
• Lyle Wong, Administrator, Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Ag Tourism - A Practical Look from the Practitioners
Ag-tourism is spreading across the country as visitors want to see real farms and have real experiences outside of the contrived "Disney" type settings. Farmers are finding new niches to give visitors an experience, as well as to expand their direct sales, by building databases and future mail order opportunities. Hawaii is tailor-made for successful ag-tourism since we are already a visitor destination and we farm year round. Panelists in this session are all engaged in successful ag-tourism activities. Come and learn what the benefits and the challenges are from those who have first hand experience.

Speakers:

• Thomas Kafsack, Owner, Surfing Goat Dairy
• Jim Reddekopp, Jr., President, Hawaiian Vanilla Company
• Diane Quitiquit, Vice President, Marketing & Development, Parker Ranch

Ag Theft - Everybody's Problem
Farmers and ranchers lose millions of dollars annually to the theft of agricultural products, supplies and equipment. Money is taken directly out of our pockets and we are left feeling violated and mad. And mad, we should be! Mad enough to take proactive steps to prevent future thefts. Learn from other farmers who have successfully implemented Farm Watch Programs in their area. Hear what police can and cannot do and learn from a prosecuting attorney how to help build a case that can be taken to court and won.

Speakers:

• Shawn Slocum, Marketing Specialist, Hawaii Department of Agriculture
• Richard Johnson, Owner, Onomea Orchards Hawaii; President, Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers
• Mitch Roth, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, County of Hawaii

Marketing 101 - Harvesting Travel Dollars from the Farm
Tourists come to Hawaii for the allure of something special, and you have just what they want! The farm experience offers the beauty and serenity of the Hawaiian countryside and a true taste of the islands. But how do you spread the word and motivate people to visit you? Farm marketing expert Jane Eckert will teach you how, based on her experience turning her family's farm into a leading tourism destinations in St. Louis , attracting more than 500,000 people each year. Using her proven and practical ideas, you'll learn how best to work with travel organizations, tour operators and how to reach individual tourists. Then, discover the best way to increase sales once visitors are on your property and even after they're back in their hometowns.

Speaker:

• Jane Eckert, Agricultural Marketing Consultant

Food Safety from Farm to Fork
Good agricultural practices (GAP) are essential to all operations, but on the food production side they become imperative. Customers are demanding a safe food supply, so your buyers are demanding it, also. Learn how your business can become certified as food safe - painlessly and efficiently. It's more common sense and easier than you may have imagined.

Speakers:

• Jim Hollyer , Program Manager, CTAHR, University of Hawaii
• Albert Louie, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Hawaii Department of Agriculture
• Letitia Uehara, Director of Marketing and Special Projects, Armstrong Foods

Innovative Products-Reframing the Challenge to Enhance Business Assets
An essential criterion of an innovative business model involves the ability to recognize an opportunity and create a product or service that takes advantage of the opportunity. Frequently this requires first overcoming a major obstacle. Panelists in this session have all experienced the benefits and risks of innovation. They saw an opportunity or a conventional problem, and by reframing it as a challenge created their own niche and more profits. Come learn from their experiences.

Speakers:

• Francis Zee, USDA Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center
• Stephen Smith, President, Hawaii Forest Industry Association
• Randy Cates, President, Cates International, Inc.

"Entre-manure-ship 2" - Practical Tips on Profiting from Manure
Learn what farms and businesses across Hawaii are doing to use livestock manures and composts to enrich their soils and their pocketbooks. This session follows up on the morning's "Entre-manure-ship" session by Dr. Marc Buchanan by sharing experiences of local manure, compost producers and users in Hawaii who have discovered how to turn this waste into rich, organic fertilizer. A panel of Hawaii farmers and businessmen will explain the composting process and benefits, their successes and challenges and answer your questions about use of composts and manures.

Moderator:

• Carl Evensen, Extension Specialist, CTAHR/CES, University of Hawaii

Speakers:

• Mark Cummings, Staff Agronomist, Hawaiian Earth Products
• James Tavares, Owner, The Grassmaker, Kahului, Maui