Agriculture

We discuss a new effort to turn invasive grass into fertilizer; ʻĀina Momona details what was covered in a recent call with the White House; a retired Honolulu firefighter shares how he's seen his battle with gout improve; and local TikTok star Brevenchy M talks about how he would be impacted if the U.S. banned the social media app

Researchers in Waimānalo are testing fertilizers made of wildfire-prone invasive plant biomass to see if they can grow food just as well as contemporary products, typically made from fossil fuels. The project could lead to cheaper alternatives for local farmers. HPR's Cassie Ordonio takes a closer look.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture has restricted the off-island movement of ʻōhiʻa plants and plant parts since 2015. This includes ʻōhiʻa lehua, leaves and seeds.

Efforts to legalize recreational marijuana are continuing to advance and hemp farmers are starting to feel the impacts as the bill would move both products under one regulating authority.

For close to three decades, Pacific Biodiesel has been plugging away in Hawaiʻi, using crops for fuel and recycling cooking oil waste from restaurants. The Conversation caught up with co-founder Kelly King to talk about the company's expansion to Kauaʻi.

A bill that would allow the state Commission on Water Resource Management to hire its own legal counsel is receiving pushback from the state’s largest law firm: the attorney general’s office. HPR's Kuʻuwehi Hiraishi explains.

The changes say that for two years, many hunting areas will have increased bag limits for pigs, goats and sheep. Some areas will also have expanded hunting periods.

Agricultural crimes are a nearly universal experience for local ranchers and farmers — and the state is being called on to do more about it. HPR's Mark Ladao hears from farmers and stakeholders advocating at the state Capitol.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture released a report this month revealing Hawaiʻi lost hundreds of its smallest farms and thousands of acres in recent years. HPR's Mark Ladao explains.

Senate Bill 3237 would primarily create a plant nursery license, designate dozens of pest species for eradication, add rules for imported goods and give the state Department of Agriculture more power to stop the movement of infested goods.