Free soil, plant testing for farmers impacted by kona low storms ends later this month

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience reminds agricultural producers the window for free soil and plant testing closes July 21 at the reopened Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center.

The free services were launched in April to support farmers whose land and crops were affected by this spring’s devastating kona low storms.

The center performed 146 free tests for affected farmers to date.

Every flood-affected farmer is eligible to submit up to three free samples until July 21 for each of the following diagnostic services:

• Soil nutrient analysis: Determine whether essential minerals were leached from the soil during flooding.
• Plant tissue nutrient analysis: Evaluate current nutrient uptake and assess health of surviving crops.
• Plant disease diagnostics: Identify potential plant pathogens or disease outbreaks triggered by the heavy rains.
• Insect identification: Monitor shifts in pest populations following the storms.

“The reopening of the [Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center] came at a pivotal moment, allowing us to deliver immediate support to our agricultural partners as they recover and replant,” said College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience Dean Parwinder Grewal in a university release. “We encourage any affected farmers who have not yet taken advantage of these free resources to submit their samples before July 21 to help get their operations back on their feet.”

Farmers can visit the Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center website to learn how to take a sample and where to drop them off.