05-07-2016, 09:26 AM
Another valid point hotpe, wonder if the list of folks wanting to grow banana is as long as mmj. Sorry but if a 600 acre cotton(banana)farm is seeing future problems with continued profits, those aren't good signs for the banana industry,jmo.
The fire ant is a serious threat to all outside future production of anything in puna, so is this ohia wilt (rod). Because the fungus is carried by the soil,water, wind and does affect other farmed crops and fruit trees. Now I don't want to discourage you hotpe from farming outside in puna or the big island but times, climates, and environments are a changing. Its no fun or picnic to be rained on by fire ants while harvesting banana,guava,mango or lychee, the day is pau,jmo.
Personally I think the tango, andro, or other ant baits and pesticides people are using regularly around many close to the ocean properties, are starting to reach our ocean coastlines. These products could endanger our ocean environment as well,jmo.
Editing to add fire ant link, these new pests are especially dangerous for our loved pets because they can and do cause blindness.
http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/50568
http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/little-fir...d-economy/
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/20...asion.html
Added another local related fire ant article, they do like to nest in bananas after all.
The fire ant is a serious threat to all outside future production of anything in puna, so is this ohia wilt (rod). Because the fungus is carried by the soil,water, wind and does affect other farmed crops and fruit trees. Now I don't want to discourage you hotpe from farming outside in puna or the big island but times, climates, and environments are a changing. Its no fun or picnic to be rained on by fire ants while harvesting banana,guava,mango or lychee, the day is pau,jmo.
Personally I think the tango, andro, or other ant baits and pesticides people are using regularly around many close to the ocean properties, are starting to reach our ocean coastlines. These products could endanger our ocean environment as well,jmo.
Editing to add fire ant link, these new pests are especially dangerous for our loved pets because they can and do cause blindness.
http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/50568
http://www.hawaiibusiness.com/little-fir...d-economy/
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/20...asion.html
Added another local related fire ant article, they do like to nest in bananas after all.