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Two-Day Program-at-a-Glance

Kathleen Merrigan is the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ms. Merrigan was recently named in Time Magazine’s “100 of the World’s Most Influential People” 2010 list. Her presentation will highlight ways of creating new economic opportunities for farmers by improving the connection with consumers. She will also share ways producers can benefit from other rural development programs and projects supported by the USDA. (Friday Opening Keynote)

21st Century Agriculture: Science, Technology, Innovation, and Solutions

Timothy LaSalle, Ph.D.  is Founder/Director of NewEra Agriculture, graduate and former CEO of the California Agriculture Leadership Foundation and an internationally sought-after speaker on sustainable farming. His keynote presentation, grounded in an international worldview, will highlight opportunities for the agricultural sector to mitigate issues of changing climate, limited fossil fuels, global trade, diet-related health issues, and other economic challenges that continue to squeeze profits from farmers livelihoods by focusing on soil health, biological intelligence, engineering innovation and economic redesign. (Thursday Opening Keynote)

Stephanie Whalen is the Executive Director of Hawaii Agriculture Research Center. Along with the story of HARC’s exciting Kunia projects, Ms Whalens’ lunch presentation will discuss overcoming barriers, collaborative strategies and leadership needs/successes that are necessary to bring innovative and sustainable projects to fruition. (Thursday Lunch)

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A Vision for Hawai‘i Agriculture: A Conversation
Speakers: Kyle Datta, Ulupono Initiative, Alan Gottlieb, Ponoholo Ranch, Tim LaSalle, NewEraAg

The goal of this session is to bring Tim LaSalle's worldview focus down to Hawaii and envision a system wide sustainable agriculture sector. Kyle, as a relative newcomer to the agriculture community, will share a fresh vision for Hawaii Ag. Alan will help to provide a seasoned perspective on that vision, while Tim will probe with questions and make connections to create new awareness and linkages to national and international activities and trends. (Thursday Plenary)

Food & Fuel: The Real Deal

We have the capacity and resources to produce and sustain both essential systems and be stewards of the land; good neighbors in our communities; and globally competitive. (Friday Plenary)

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Big Time Carbon Sequestration: Large Scale Cover Cropping, Composting & Other Ecosystem Services
Confirmed Speakers: John McHugh - Pioneer Hy-Bred Int., Mark Cummings – Hawaiian Earth Products, Ali Fares - UH CTAHR.

Join the experts to learn about strategies for scaling up sustainable framing practices.

Educators from across the state and at all age levels will share current activities and future plans for addressing the need for the next generation of farmers. Attend these sessions and see how you can contribute to this very important effort to grow farmers.

Integrated Farming Systems: Natural Farming and Aquaponics
Speakers: Clyde Tamaru, UHM CTAHR and Dr. Bradley (Kai) Fox and Eric Weinert

Because CTAHR’s current plans to focus on producing more of Hawaii’s food and fuel here in the islands Clyde Tamaru will share the latest of aquaponic Research, Extension and Outreach that is addressing statewide aquaponic stakeholder needs. Dr. Fox will be making a presentation on an aquaponic system dubbed the "Waimanalo Prototype". This prototype, launched with several Hawaiian Homesteads communities, provides a glimpse of what it will take for Hawaii to decrease its reliance on imports while producing its own food and energy. Eric Weinert will share the reasons he sought out natural farming methods and why they are appropriate for his farming operation. He will share specifics of the development and application of the inputs and talk about crops that are well suited to these methods. He will show photos of farms in Korea he has visited and comment on his view of agriculture sustainability in Hawaii.

Speakers: Pamela Martin, Administrator for the Wage Standards Division, Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; Terence (Terry) Trotter, District Director, Hawaii District Office of the US Dept. of Labor, Wage & Hour Division; Min Kirk, Assistant District Director, Hawaii District Office of the US Dept. of Labor, Wage & Hour Division; Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Chairperson of the Hawaii State Board of Agriculture will moderate the session.

Follow the Water: Hawaii's Drought Dilemma
Confirmed Speakers: Neal Fujii, Hawaii State Drought Coordinator; Kevin Kodama, Senior Service Hydrologist, NWS Honolulu Forecast Office ; Cheryl Anderson, PhD, Director, Hazards, Climate, & Environment Program, UH SSRI; Moderated by Marina Piscolish, PhD, MAPping Change, LLC.

Drought is a reality in Hawaii. Everyone from farmers to policy makers will benefit from information to be shared at the session about web-based tools, data and other resources available to support community resilience planning efforts.

Integrating Animals on Your Farm
Confirmed Speakers: Timothy LaSalle, Ph.D.  is Founder/Director of NewEra Agriculture.

There is increased understanding the including animals in your farming equation contributes to sustainable agriculture. While worthy of exploration and consideration, issues of food and a farm safety must also be part of the conversation.

Invasive Species Issues and the importance and viability of New Import Replacement Crops
Confirmed Speakers: Jackie Korzak, Hawaii Invasive Species Council

Two key issues in Hawaii’s path to food self sufficiency include identifying appropriate crops that have stable markets and ensuring we protect those crops we plan to rely upon.

Confirmed Presenters:

Enlist a staff of millions-microorganisms on the farm
Speaker: Gerry Ross, Co-owner and Farmer, Kupa’a Farms

Livestock habitat-modified deep litter for your pigs
Speaker: Val Kaneshiro, M&H Kaneshiro Farms Inc.

Value added for off grade products
Speaker: Paul Uyehara, President of Aloha Tofu

Increase your yield-biochar for Hawaii’s farmers
Speaker: Joshiah Hunt, Owner of Landscape Ecology,

Equipment conversion-from diesel to biodiesel
Tracey Cheyne, Assistant Farm Manager at weFarm@kapalua

Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Farmers Union, US Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, UHM-CTAHR, Hawaii Ag Tourism Association, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawai'i Florists and Shippers Association

Hawaii Biomass & Bioenergy Workshop: What’s the Buzz & What’s in it for Hawaii’s Agriculture

On Friday the U. S. Department of Agriculture presents the following sessions: Food and Fuel: The Real Deal, Why Biomass & Biofuels for Hawaii, What's in it for Hawaii's Farmers and Hawaii Agriculture's Preferred Biomass & Biofuels Future (Friday 9/24/10)

A Summit on Rural Hawaii: The Data, The Dilemmas, and the Opportunities

Following a recent series of statewide listening sessions the Hawaii Rural Development Council will host a series of presentations, conversations and planning on topics such as economic development, local food systems, broadband access and renewable energy. (Friday 9/24/10)

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Grown on Oahu Bus Tour

First time ever, sign up for the Grown on Oahu Bus Tour, Sept. 25, Sat. from 8a - 2pm.

See how diversified agriculture is adding profits and sustainability to farms. Experience Kahuku Farm's value-added focus, North Shore Cattle Company ranch-to-table concept and MA‘O Farms, efforts to raise a community of health through a recently launched CSA, community supported agriculture. Reservations and Ticket Purchase here.  (Saturday 9/25/10)

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• Evening Pau Hana Reception featuring island inspired pupu and music by Jeff Peterson
• A honey tasting hosted by Slow Food Oahu
• Kanu Hawaii will deconstruct lunch and highlight the economic impact of using local products
• Farm equipment on the lawn
• Web Tools for connecting demonstration area in Tradeshow
• Post Conference Gown on Oahu Farm Tour, sponsored by HATA
• Film Screening: Na Kupu Mana'olana - SEEDS OF HOPE, THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE IN HAWAII,
  A Documentary for National Public Television

Scholarships Available

Click here for a pdf flyer with general information about the program