The August 2015 issue of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.
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The Perfect Design - Feathers In A Nutshell
I can still recall the first feather I held in my hands. I was 6 years old, walking down a dirt road with my grandfather when I spotted a feather, its vibrant blues and white reflecting the sun's rays. My new treasure was the tail feather of a blue jay. From that moment on I became one of millions around the world awestruck by birds and the incredible characteristic that grants them the freedom of flight: feathers. Feathers are the inspiration for fashion fabrics and accessories, for traditional, ceremonial or religious wear throughout the world, and for the beautiful, flamboyant costumes of Caribbean and Central American Carnivals. The beauty of feathers inspiring fashion designers drove several species almost to the brink of extinction. Feather colors vary from vibrant reds of a vermillion flycatcher, bright yellow and green on a displayed yellow-headed parrot to the bald head of a turkey vulture. Feathers on birds attract a mate, protect them from the sun, repel water and insulate them from the cold. They have the ability to keep harmful bacteria at bay, and most importantly are structurally crafted to give flight, allowing birds to inhabit every continent except Antarctica.

To The Editor
Featured in the full page ad supporting the use of genetically modified organism (GMO) seed that appeared in the Belize Ag Report, issue 27, paid for by the Belize Grain Growers Association (BGGA) was a statement that GMO technology is used to produce animal feed. We must not forget that people eat the animals that ingest the seeds that have been injected with poison. In addition, there are increasing numbers of farmers reporting better animal health with non-GMO feed. Cattle deaths due to digestive problems or pneumonia have been cut in half for farmers who have switched back to non-GMO feed. State-of-the-art technology is already here to provide plentiful healthy and nourishing food and soil, safe renewable energy, clean water, and safe medicine- without the use of petroleum-based chemicals, seed manipulation and patenting. The technology and science of permaculture, bio-mimicry, bio-char, composting, biodiversity, non-toxic weed/pest management practices, along with other technologies described under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in the Farm Management Manual published by the Belize Ministry of Economic Development, are all designed to eliminate pollution, cost, and waste.

Winged Invasion
Middle of dry season, hot and dry as expected, but out of nowhere the heavens open and we are blessed with a shower. No matter how small, any amount of moisture at this time of year can trigger something fascinating�..Clouds of tiny insects emerge from the ground, and disperse everywhere, and I mean everywhere. These delicate, soft bodied insects are subterranean termites swarmers (Genus: Reticulitermes), or locally known as wood lice here in Belize. This phenomenon is seasonal in some parts of the world, but here in the tropics it is usually an environmentally triggered event, with frequency dependent on region, species and colony size. These clouds of insects fly aimlessly on wings much larger than their bodies and float where the wind takes them, like grains of pollen, with slightly more control. Their extra-large wings serve their purpose for gliding on the breeze, but then pose a problem. When a termite reproductive (aylate), finds that small crack in the soil, and try to squeeze in, this is where the mess begins. To better enable the termite to go in search for their new home underground, they shed their wings and start their own form of cave exploration, except this is for survival of the species, so it is serious business and this is where the persistence of these pesky critters comes into play.

Soil Profile
The soil profile is an important tool in farm management. A soil profile, can give valuable insight into soil texture and fertility which is very important in growing crops. This simple overlooked procedure can save a lot of problems by taking a peek on what is laying beneath the surface of the land. A soil profile is made up of distinct layers, known as horizons. The five most common horizons are collectively known as the master horizons. Scientists have developed methods to describe the various components and characteristics of the soil profile. By using common terminology, soil profile descriptions are valuable for deciding how the soil might be used and/or predicting how the soil might react to its intended use. Technical descriptions of the soil are not only useful for farmers, but for scientists, ecologists, soil engineers, hydrologists and land use planners. A soil horizon makes up a distinct layer of soil. The horizon runs roughly parallel to the soil surface and has different properties and characteristics than the adjacent layers above and below. The soil profile is a vertical section of the soil that depicts all of its horizons. The soil profile extends from the soil surface to the parent rock material.

The Emerging Roles of the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) and Sugar Industry Management Information System(SIMIS)
As Belize heads towards the direction of increasing and maximizing sugar cane production without clearing new land the need for plant nutrition turns out to be a key study factor. Plant nutrition is important because different sugar cane varieties, soils types and weather conditions dictate types of fertilizer to be used to increase production and at the same time lower the cost of production. The research department of SIRDI has embarked on a mission to use clean seeds to establish nurseries to introduce new varieties of sugar cane. It is also collecting soil samples to verify nutritional needs of the sugar cane, establishing baseline data of different varieties and establishing a seed bank of clean seeds. The extension department has been designed as a technology transfer section with its primary role to train stakeholders to improve cane yields, be more cost effective and increase net return to sugar cane farmers. Its main objective is to establish an efficient and effective field advisory service network throughout the northern sugar belt.

Energetic Agriculture - Soil, Carbon, And Microbes
The top 2 inches of soil is the source of all living things on planetEarth; it's where all the foods that sustain animal and human life come from. Over the last 50 years as we turned agriculture from being primarily based on biology to an industry based onchemistry, we have been steadily destroying our precious top soil. Soil begins with rock, sand, or river sediments and when mixed with organic matter becomessoil. It takes several hundreds of years to create soil but we can destroy it in 20 to 50 years with toxic chemicals and bad plowing methods. The good news is that humans can create soil inabout 3 to 5 years' time. Carbon and microbes work together. One needs the other. Good or healthy soil is about 50%solids and the other 50% is water and air. One very important fact is carbon can never be created or destroyed. It changes form. When weuse certain chemical fertilizers, or do bad plowing of our fields, we drive carbon out of the soil.

Oregano!
Pungent, balsamic, spicy, zesty, slightly bitter, aromatic, tasty and healing describes oregano, an ancient herb with many culinary and healing properties. Oregano, origanum vulgare, is a well-known common species of Origanum, a genus of the mint family. Grown as a hardy small shrub and considered to be a perennial herb, oregano grows to be anywhere from about two to over six feet tall. One bush goes a long way and will stay productive for at least three years or longer, then will reseed itself. Two varieties of oregano are grown and used in Belize. One is the familiar small medium grayish to green leaved kind, described above, which many associate with pizza and spaghetti sauce. The other variety, grown widely in Belize, known as 'Mexican oregano', has larger succulent, fuzzy, pale green leaves, and is actually not considered botanically to be a true oregano. Mexican oregano is a member of of the vervain family, Verbenceae. It grows easily and is used to add a hint of rosemary with a citrus accent and is used as a subsitute for epazote leaves.

Beyond The Backyard - Paternal Instinct
In March 2015 alone more than 100,000 visitors flocked to Washington State USA to see the Cherry Blossoms. They fly from around the world and join the feeding frenzy sucking up the sight of these marvelous trees. They marry under the confetti of petals, dancing and reveling in delight, taking shots with their i phones and sharing their joy on Facebook. In Belize there is a blossom that momentarily takes my breath away, as I am stunned by its beauty, every bit as impressive as the cherry blossom but with much more versatility. It has a fairly humble position as it is used mainly as a living fence and nicknamed "quick stick"as it is really that easy to grow in any type of soil. Its deep roots and quick growth make it a good windbreak. Gliricidia sepium is derived from the Latin meaning to kill a rat. Which is just one of its many uses. It is a good insect repellent and used on dogs and livestock for flees, ticks and scabies or to get rid of termites and bed bugs. There are many folkloric medicinal claims and known to be antipruitic, antioxidant, antifungal and antimicrobial. In Mexico there is a antibacterial soap made from the bark. It is also a leguminous nitrogen fixer suitable for alley cropping. Cut branches are then used for firewood and lumber.

Hugelkultur
Hugelkultur, pronounced hoo-gul-culture, is an ancient way of gardening or farming. Practiced for hundreds of years in Germany and Eastern Europe, hugelkultur is now receiving widespread attention and interest by farmers worldwide. The word hugelkultur is a German word meaning raised mounds or hill culture and is constructed on top of decaying wood debris and other compostable material. These growing mounds hold moisture, build fertility for the plants, maximize growing space, and provide nutritious soil for growing fruits, vegetables and herbs. They are particularly useful in places where water is scarce, allowing farmers and gardeners in the tropics to continue to grow during the dry season.

Food Safety Testing In Belize
The Central Investigation Laboratory (CIL) is a food testing laboratory that operates under the Food Safety Services of the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA).It is housed at what was originally in the 1970's the Veterinary Laboratory of Belize City. While the archaic structure is where one would least expect to find the country's only official food testing laboratory, the work that takes place on these premises is of vital importance to Belize. For example, when a panic-stricken public needed answers during the "pink potato"scare it was in the Chemical Analysis Laboratory (CAL)that operates at CIL that the adulterant was identified as a food dye. CIL houses both the CAL, and the Food Microbiology Laboratory(FML). The FML is a biosafety level 2 laboratory that tests food products for pathogens that cause food borne illness such as Salmonellosis (from the Salmonella bacterium), Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio cholera; it also provides testing support to the Ministry of Health in outbreak scenarios. This laboratory had its origins in the Fisheries department, and was relocated to the BAHA facilities in order to support export certification of the fish and fishery products, and particularly aquaculture, after the founding of BAHA in the year 2000. Since that time the lab has expanded to encompass testing of other food matrices as well.

Considering Lime and its Use for the Best Crop Response
There is a book with my name on it called, Neal Kinsey's Hands-On Agronomy. And although it has been popular enough that several printings with numerous updates and small revisions have come out since the last major revisions in March, 2009, the profits from sales each month are not sufficient to pay even my telephone bill which is only a small part of monthly expenses. That is not meant as a complaint, but just to point out that making money by selling the book is not the big reason for its existence. It was written and intended to help farmers better understand the fertility issues of the soil. And also to help everyone concerned gain a better understanding about how and why the soil's fertility needs vary so much from one part of a field to another. And furthermore, to help explain how to correct the poor areas and improve the good areas in order to grow the best crops possible in each different soil. In the 2006 through 2013 printings of Hands-On Agronomy, page 64, the discussion of liming and pH begins. From that point in the chapter and on into the next, the explanation of the relationship between calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium and each one's influence on pH is discussed, with many examples provided along the way that are intended to help make the points become even clearer.

Soil Fertility Workshop at UB's College of Agriculture Declared a Resounding Success by Participants
Shortly after Neal Kinsey's articles started appearing in the August 2014 Belize Ag Report issue 26, growing numbers of readers opined that it would be beneficial to bring him to the University of Belize's College of Agriculture (UB CF) to present his introductory 3 day Albrecht-Kinsey Method Soil Fertility Course to Belizean students, teachers and farmers. This was realized at UB CF on May 11, 12 and 13th, 2015. About a third of the 65 participants were 2nd year students at the College of Agriculture or teaching staff from UB CF and other Institute for Technical and Vocational Educational Training (ITVET) schools in Belize.

Avian Influenza in Belize
Belize implemented its active surveillance programme for avian influenza (AI) in 1999 as a result of the high threat arising from the avian influenza H5N2 outbreaks which started in 1994 in the neighbouring country of Mexico. When Guatemala and El Salvador reported low pathogenic avian influenza H5N2 in 2000 and 2002, respectively, the active surveillance for avian influenza was strengthened. In 2009,through the implementation of the Belize Poultry Improvement Plan (BPIP), AI monitoring of chicken broiler and layer breeder flocks commenced with breeder flocks being tested three times in their lives. 2014 was no different from other years in avian AI surveillance activities including active and passive surveillance and monitoring of breeder flocks. All blood samples collected from active and passive surveillance for AI in 2014 tested negative. All blood samples collected under BPIP in 2014 also tested negative except for samples collected in Spanish Lookout, Cayo District from an 8000 chicken broiler breeder flock 39 weeks of age, in early December, 2014.

BEL-CAR Update Blackeye Peas (BE's)
Red Kidney Beans are now a part of the coop program at BEL- CAR along with corn and blackeye peas. That means the farmers who grow RK's receive equitable payments based on the prices BEL-CAR receives when they sell them. That will take care of the problems that arise when price fluctuations due to supply/demand variances in the market place result in different prices paid to farmers whose harvests and deliveries vary during the season. Blackeye peas are graded according to their quality which is determined by detailed export standards, including appearance (color, spots/markings caused by insects), moisture, and presence of non-BE beans, splits or foreign material, e.g., stones. Weather can adversely affect bean quality. For example, weather that is too dry during the growing season causes BE's to have a yellowish color; however, BE's should be harvested in dry weather (no rain the previous 2 weeks) to maximize quality. Spotting also comes from weather conditions; but weather is not the only factor affecting quality.

Soils Of Belize - Eastern OW District, Northern Belize District
My last article addressed the western/south western portion of the Orange Walk district. This article looks at the eastern portion of the district and its association with the northern part of the Belize District. The major agents of the formation of these soils are the two rivers - The New River in the north and the Belize River in the south that form these two associated drainage basins further south. The principal geophysical feature is the flat land intersperses with many large and small water bodies such as lagoons, lakes and ponds. These watersheds have substantial areas of marsh lands and swamps (peat) as well as areas that are old leached alluvial pine ridge soils as well as younger soils lying on top of limestone and further south lying on top of clay hard pans. Drainage is usually a problem causing anaerobic soil conditions. Anyone who has travelled the course of the New River readily appreciates the estuarine nature of the main course of the river as it passes east and then north into the Corozal District. The occasional top gallon floods expose the nature of the flood plains. The youngest soils near the permanent water courses are entisols or inceptisols with significant water regimes and so are called aquaent or aquaept.

Quality Planting Material from University of Belize
The University of Belize has established a commercial-scale plant micropropagation laboratory at its Central Farm campus. This much needed service has not been previously available in Belize but is now supplying Belize's agriculture sector with quality planting material. By using micropropagated plants farmers can produce better crops with higher yields. Belize's sugarcane industry has already begun using plants produced by the laboratory. Additionally, lab staff are developing procedures for producing citrus seedlings and technical support will soon be forthcoming for banana plantlet production. In addition to providing farmers with quality planting material this technology can be used to rapidly introduce new varieties into the country and distribute them to growers. It is also useful for providing farmers with large quantities of plants for use at a specific time of year permitting them to take greater advantage of weather patterns and market opportunities.

Homemade Health - Chronic Pain
Those who suffer from chronic pain related to the muscular-skeletal system will attest that it can be debilitating and miserable. One may think the pain is inescapable and relay on pain medication or resort to surgical intervention to escape. This article will introduce you to a revolutionary method that has worked for thousands of people. The cost to you will be about Bz $18, which is the cost of the book I recommend you purchase for complete step-by-step instructions. The caveat is that the responsibility for your health is on you. Only you can take the steps. No one can do it for you. However, the good news is that if you do it, you can enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle. If you're in a hurry, just go to Amazon to download the book, "Pain Free: A Revolutionary Method for Stopping Chronic Pain" by Pete Egoscue with Roger Gittines. You can download a free version of Kindle on your telephone or computer and start right now.

Belize Livestock Producers Association
How things change in such a short time! With the price of cattle reaching record level over the last couple of months and no downturn in prices likely in the foreseeable future. The public has been in uproar at having to pay high prices in the stores for ground meat and stewing beef. Farmers and processors are being accused of gouging the public and this is simply not true. Discussions on the TV and newspaper articles are fuelling this fire and while it understandable, there are many folk that are either not fully informed or misinformed. It would appear that there is a growing informal trade once again developing between Belize and Mexico with cattle being moved across the border at several points. However, these numbers are very small in comparison to what is being sold to Guatemala.

Jaguar Predation: Ranchers and Conservationists Strive Together for Answers Toledo's Ya'axche Hosts Experts from Panthera
There are no current estimates as to what the countrywide jaguar and puma losses to the livestock industry are, as many ranchers have been reluctant to discuss the predation issue. More information is needed on cat predation of livestock in Belize, to create the best strategies to minimize these losses. However, enough is already known to identify several predation hotspots, including the Belize River Valley area around Crooked Tree and rural Toledo District. The Belize Livestock Association (BLPA) will shortly begin coordination with the Belize Forestry Department and Panthera, the world leader in wild cat conservation, to include cat predation feedback in the cattle sweep surveys of ranchers. Not waiting for these in-depth particulars to begin assisting Belize's ranching sector, in June, Panthera sent their Brazilian based Jaguar/Cattle Conflict Director, Dr. Rafael Hoogesteijn, and locally based jaguar expert Dr. Rebecca Foster to meet with ranchers in both Toledo and Crooked Tree.

What Happens to Belize's Bananas and Sugar after 1st January 2017?
To have an appreciation for what is happening or will happen with Belize's sugar and bananas after 2017 it is important to understand a bit about the World Trade Organization (WTO), Common Agriculture Policy (CAPS), African Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP), Contonou Agreement, Everything But Arms (EBA) treaty, Doha Round and Bali Ministerial Declaration. International trade is a very complex business that has to do more with politics than actual trade. So that while governments never buy or sell agricultural produce themselves they have a tremendous impact on access, price, form and quantity of goods moved. In the case of Belize it is important to understand how these agreements, treaties and decisions affect our trade with the EU. While banana and sugar are the largest exports to the EU they are by no means the only ones. Citrus, Cacao and Marine Products are also on the list. The Cotonou Agreement is an agreement signed in 2000 between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Under Cotonou, ACP countries are exempted from paying tariffs for most of their agricultural primary exports to the EU. Most ACP countries also have special trade privileges under the Everything but Arms (EBA) treaty with the EU. Under this treaty all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have tariff-free access to Europe's markets for all their goods except arms.

Tilapia Hatchery Centre "UnBelizeable taste; I'm lovin' tilapia"
Almost two years after the first shovel of dirt was ceremoniously turned over at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Tilapia Hatchery Centre in Cayo, the grand opening was held on May 20th with over 100 people in attendance. Dignitaries included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA) Hon. Gaspar Vega, Ambassador of R.O.C. (Taiwan) Mr. Benjamin Ho, MNRA Director of Extension Mr. Belarmino Esquivel, extension officers from the other districts and Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM)project personnel. With funding from the Taiwan International Cooperation Development Fund (ICDF), the project is to remain under development and management by TTM until February 2017 at which time it will be turned over to Belize. TTM project manager is Mr. Luis Jou and MNRA project coordinator is Mr. Miguel Sosa. The primary objectives stated at the ground-breaking ceremony included producing one million high quality tilapia fingerlings to assist the development of small-scale tilapia farming operations in Belize. Although the 16 earthen ponds, 16 fingerlings concrete tanks and 12 nursery concrete tanks built at the hatchery over the past two years can handle 700,000 fingerlings, this first year production was 400,000,80 - 90% of which are being sold to farmers. The farmers in attendance were able to see the fingerlings as part of the tour of the facility.

Growing Jackfruit in Belize
Considering that the giant ripe fruits of the jackfruit tree range in size from 10 pounds to more than 70 pounds, this is one of the largest tree fruits on the planet. A large family or a small village may feast on a fruit of this enormous size! Jackfruit trees are reasonably well adapted to Belize growing conditions. They thrive in Belize's rainy wet season, but they are stressed and may defoliate in the dry season months. Over the years, we have introduced many seedling varieties of jackfruit, scientific name Artocarpus heterophyllus,family Moraceae, to our farm on Spanish Creek in the Belize District. This tree is closely related to the tropical breadfruit, Artocarpus altilis. Jackfruit is native to India and Malaysia and other areas of Southeast Asia in lowland tropical forests. The fruit has been carried by man throughout the tropics; it was introduced into Jamaica in 1783 and is commonly grown there, and its seeds have been planted throughout the tropical Americas. Tropical Agro-Forestry, Ltd. Is always in search of new fruit varieties for the forest edges and cultivated areas. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) determined that the introduction of jackfruit seed would pose no risk to other crops in Belize. Jackfruit plants from fresh seed sourced in Florida were planted in our nursery in grow bags of native soil amended with rice hulls and composted wood sawdust.

Cassava Value Chain Participants
From May 10 to 15, 2015 Ms. Patricia Biermayr-Jenzano, a consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), visited Belize to conduct a survey on participants in the cassava value chain, focusing on the processing and marketing aspects. The objective of the survey was to understand the informal food systems, determine men's/women's participation and needs along the value chain, the main points of entry, road blocks and best practices to support women/men entrepreneurs and also to determine whether food safety guidelines are followed, highlighting the importance of safeguarding public health. The survey was conducted as a series of visits to households, farms, women's groups, processor sand local markets, meetings with public and private stakeholders anda workshop where findings were shared with invited guests. Public and private stakeholders that participated in the survey were the District Agriculture and Cooperative Department, Ministry of Health Belize and Belmopan, Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET), Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), farmers, women's groups, processors, Belize Ag Report, the National Garifuna Council,Agriculture Research Unit and senior technical staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture.

Corn Growth Stages
This identification system divides plant development into vegetative (V) and reproductive (R) stages. The (V) stages are designated numerically as V1, V2, V3, etc. through V(n)where (n) represents the number of leaves with visible collars. The first and last (V) stages are designated as VE (emergence)and VT (tasseling). The six reproductive stages are simply designated numerically. Vegetative and Reproductive Stages Each leaf stage is defined according to the uppermost leaf whose leaf collar is visible. Loss of the lower leaves will begin about V6 due to increased stalk size and nodal root growth. To determine the proper leaf stage after lower leaf loss, split the stalk lengthwise and inspect for inter node elongation. The first node above the first elongated inter node is generally the fifth leaf node. This fifth leaf node can be used as a reference point for counting the top leaf collar.

Adaptation of Soybeans to Belize
Soybeans, a major crop in Belize,come in hundreds of varieties. In1983 the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) began to evaluate a large number of soybean varieties in Belize. Seed samples of those varieties were acquired from international centres where the seeds were produced by using traditional breeding procedures. We were able to select a few varieties which were adaptable to Belize (not genetically modified and also not hybrid). CARDI released a number of varieties based on evaluation in Belize and produced annually a limited amount of seeds of those selected varieties. The major factor of adaptability was the amount of daylight in Belize. The soybean is sensitive to day-length (photo period).

Forests and Agriculture for Human Well-being
At approximately 60% intact forest, Belize has the highest rate of forest cover in Central America. Forty percent of these forests are protected under the National Protected Areas System (NPAS)(Cherrington, 2014). As a biodiversity hotspot, these forests provide habitat for over 100 globally-threatened species, including 4 critically endangered, 21 endangered and 30 vulnerable terrestrial species. With about half of the population residing in rural areas, many Belizeans depend on forests for livelihoods, including the provision of food such as game meat and freshwater fish, timber for housing and shelter and firewood for cooking. The forests' contribution to GDP and national development often go unnoticed. Apart from important ecosystem services such as climate regulation,protection from flooding and pests and disease mitigation, our national forests also provide a lifeline for human well-being: water. The Maya Mountains Massif, one of the country's Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) with intact forests, contains 14 watersheds which provide water to over 128 communities in Belize (including 18% of Belize's population along the Belize River watershed) and more than 180 communities in Guatemala, resulting in over 300 communities that depend on the forests of the Maya Mountains for water.

Coconut Production and Market Opportunities Formation of Stakeholders Platform Committee
Since the 1980's there has been a decline in coconut production worldwide including Belize, due mainly to the loss of international market resulting from the promotion of negative health impacts and problems from pests and diseases. However, the market situation has changed in recent years. Coconut and its derivatives are now regarded as being beneficial to human health and wellness. Between 2008 and 2014, there was a 700% increase in world demand for coconut products, especially green coconut water, milk, cold-pressed virgin oil, fibers and cosmetics. Belize and the other CARIFORUM countries are keen to meet some of those market demands. The European Union (EU) has contracted the International Trade Centre (ITC) to oversee the implementation of a 4 year, 3.5 Million Euro project for increasing coconut production in the CARIFORUM countries of Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago. Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) is partnering with ITC in these efforts.

Red Ring Disease in Coconuts
Coconuts are not just for shipwrecked island survivors any more. In the past five years,world demand for coconuts and coconut products has increased over 800%. Recent interest from the European Union to invest large amounts of grant money to help increase production to meet the world's increasing demand provides Belize with a great opportunity to expand its growing capacity and export what already grows naturally. Plans for a growers and processors association are already in the works, and one of the top priorities will be education about the world's most destructive wilt disease in coconuts: Red Ring disease. Red Ring disease is caused by the tiny Red Ring nematode(Bursaphelenchus cocophilus), first described on coconut palms in 1905. The vector of this nematode is the palm weevil(Rynchophorus palmarum), in whose gut the nematode resides until transmitted by feeding. The nematode causes serious damage to palms, which are stunted and eventually killed by nematode infection.

Fresh Organic Produce for the Cayo
Pro-Organic Belize (POB), a group of persons committed to sourcing healthy food in the Cayo district in Belize, have joined together with the San Antonio Cayo Organic Growers Association (SACOGA) to form a successful buyers and organic growers organization. A transitional organic three-year contract has been signed by POB and SACOGA. Each week a list of available produce is sent to the list of customers. Once orders are received, produce is packaged and delivered to the San Ignacio Saturday open air market for customers to pick-up from 7:30 - 10:30 am. Produce from the weekly harvest is also available for sale from the SACOGA booth. The customer base is 50 and growing with orders from around Belize. A popular addition to the weekly produce is the addition of freshly grown organic sprouts. Despite a spate of bad weather the farmers are rallying to keep their customers satisfied with organically grown produce. POB is introducing a labelling system with the San Ignacio market vendors to help buyers know which produce is imported with agro-chemicals, grown in Belize or grown in Belize organically.

Maya Forest Garden - Agave
What may look like a wild jungle is really a welcoming garden,one made by the ancient Maya. Maya gardeners chose and tend plants that are useful. Their forest gardens are a 2,000-year-old gift, but a living gift that we must care for, use and learn about, and share. I have worked with traditional Maya forest gardeners over the past four decades and will share a story of plants of the Maya forest garden. This article on the Henequen (Agave four croydes) is the first of a planned series of articles on Maya forest plants. The Maya relied heavily, both directly and indirectly, on plants and trees of the bush - for food, water, medicine, tools, cultural rituals, and clothing. The Henequen, also spelled Henequin and Heniquen,is a native cactus of the Maya forest here in Belize as well as Mexico and Guatemala. It can be found among monocot shrubs(leaves with parallel veins and flowers arranged in threes). It is reportedly naturalized in Italy, Canary Islands, Costa Rica,Cuba, Hispaniola, Cayman Islands and the Lesser Antilles. The Henequen leaves yield a fiber which was used by the Maya for producing rope, handbags, gunny sacks, hammocks, and other useful products that are completely biodegradable.

National Agriculture Trade Show 2015
The fairgrounds in Belmopan came alive from May 1st to 3 rd with over 40,000 attendees at the National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS), the single largest event in Belize. The main objective of NATS is to educate the public on the importance of agriculture and its contribution to the Belizean economy and food security. It is an annual event sponsored by the National Agriculture and Trade Show staff in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA). The first NATS fair was held in 1937, and has steadily grown since. Starting in 1970 the annual event has been held in Belmopan. The venue now covers over sixty acres. The theme of the 2015 NATS fair was "Stimulating prosperity in agriculture and food production through renewed public-private partnership." The 2015 NATS fair was expanded to include participants from other countries in Central America who were invited to attend and become involved.

Ag Briefs
Joe L Friesen Brahman Breeding Stock Auction, will be held on Sept 5, 2015 at Joe Friesen Jr's Iguana Creek Farm. For details see ad. Sustainable Harvest International (SHI) will hold their Annual Organic Fair on Friday Oct 30 and Saturday Oct 31, 2015. For further information, contact SHI as per their advertisement. Spanish Lookout's 4th Bi-annual Commercial and Industrial Expo is scheduled for Friday Feb 26 and Saturday Feb 27, 2016 at Countryside Park,Spanish Lkt. Information: [email protected]

Mediterranean Fruit Fly Detected in Southern Belize
These activities are important to ensure that the outbreak iscontained and that the Medflies are eradicated quickly. The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) hereby informs the public, especially in Southern Belize, that the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (or Medfly) has been detected in the village of Hopkins in the Stann Creek District and in the Sapodilla Cayes in the Toledo District. As a result of these detections, eradication activities such as fruit stripping, ground spraying, and delimitation trapping are underway in these areas.