Free soil, plant testing for Kona Low-affected farmers ends July 21

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) is reminding local agricultural producers that the window for free soil and plant testing at the reopened Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC) closes on Tuesday, July 21.

The free services were launched in April, after the ADSC reopened, to support farmers whose land and crops were affected by this spring’s devastating Kona low.

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

• Soil Nutrient Analysis: To determine whether essential minerals were leached from the soil during flooding.
• Plant Tissue Nutrient Analysis: To evaluate current nutrient uptake and assess the health of surviving crops.
• Plant Disease Diagnostics: To identify potential plant pathogens or disease outbreaks triggered by the heavy rains.
• Insect Identification: To monitor shifts in pest populations following the storms.

“The reopening of the ADSC came at a pivotal moment, allowing us to deliver immediate support to our agricultural partners as they recover and replant,” said CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal. “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.”

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

Farmers can visit the ADSC website to learn how to take a sample and where to drop them off.