Re: A tidbit from Hawaii

**T* C* <t*@aol.com>**

Thanks--I think! (jealous!)--for this update, Andrew.

I am wondering if you are seeing invasive plants on the islands and if so, can you gauge the impact?
In particular: wood rose, Merremia tuberosa, and beach naupaca, Scaevola sericea var. taccada.

Teri Chace
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-----Original Message-----
From: hamptongar <hamptongar@aol.com>
To: gardenwriters <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wed, Mar 27, 2013 8:13 pm
Subject: [GWL] A tidbit from Hawaii

Several months ago I posted a note looking for feedback on an upcoming trip to 
Hawaii.  Many of you responded with some great suggestions of places to visit.  
I'm mid-way through the trip and spent most of today with some farming and 
agriculture people.  I was very surprised...maybe even mildly shocked...to find 
that as much as 1/3 of all the farming land on the island of Oahu is planted 
with GMO seed corn.  They get in three crops a year and the bulk of the seed is 
then shipped to the mainland for feedstock and ethanol production.   Great place 
to 'hide' the stuff and still be in the U.S. but I'm trying not to be syndical.  
Interestingly the locals feel that the three large companies that do the GMO 
corn farming are being great stewards of the land.  Interesting paradox. 

Very little in the way of pests and diseases in the agricultural crops here save 
for the coffee where up to 40% of the crop on Kona is being done in by a beetle.

The next biggest issue seems to be wild pigs.  Dole reports that one or two wild 
pigs can do in a quarter acre of pineapple in one night.  Well, guess that's why 
they're called pigs.

Lots and lots of interesting stories here.  

Ah, but back to the beach.....

Andrew
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