AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums About Belize Nation Belize Ag Report

Issue #36-May 2017 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!

GOD BUSH CONTROL PROGRAM IN CITRUS
Struthanthus orbicularis is one of the various parasitic weed that reproduces on citrus in Belize. Most commonly known as God bush or "Mata Palo" in Spanish. God bush can be reproduced by seeds and plant tissues, the spread from tree to tree is mainly by birds, human and farm machinery. Inadequate management of God bush forces trees to compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients. The growth aggressiveness of God bush can cover trees foliage rapidly causing and ideal micro climate within trees suitable for fungal diseases, subsequently leaf drop, die back of branches and final death of trees. Chemical control methods for God bush has damaged trees if sprayed direct, most command method implemented to control have been pruning of infested branches. A herbicide trial was conducted to control S. orbicularis on orange trees at Cool Shade, Cayo District, Belize C.A. from the 18th January to 7th April, 2017.

Old Crops Become New Underutilized Native Crops: Sweet Potatoes
The problem in food shortage, even with the technology that has been developed over the decades, continues to rise. In 1975 the deficit in food availability worldwide was 12 million metric tons; in the 1990's it had surpassed 85 million metric tons. Today it is closer to 100 million metric tons. The crops with the most acreage or tonnage produced in the world are wheat, rice, corn, potatoes and sweet potatoes, presented in order of importance. Of the aforementioned crops, sweet potatoes have achieved the highest yields per acre in farm trials. Of all the roots and tubers consumed in the world sweet potatoes take second place just behind potatoes. Approximately 46 million acres of potatoes are produced in the world and about 34 million acres of sweet potatoes. Asia grows 92 percent of the total acreage of sweet potatoes. It is one of the few crops that can be grown from sea level up to 6000 feet about sea level.

Dear Editor:
I am writing to share the importance of the visit we had by Dr. Stephanie Seneff, MIT scientist, who presented to the Pesticides Control Board and the general public, "Why Glyphosate Should Be Banned, Globally." Representatives for seven sponsoring organizations including Belize Organic Family Farming, Pro-Organic Belize, Belize Wellness Institute, Belize Botanical Gardens, Plenty Belize, Sustainable Harvest International of Belize, and Southeast Watershed Alliance Group (SWAG) made presentations to the Pesticides Control Board Review Committee on August 30, 2016 requesting the PCB review and prohibit the importation of glyphosate, and all its formulations (some 19) currently imported into Belize. We were instructed to base our presentations on peer-reviewed studies. This means that a group of scientists must vet the science behind the study, and deem it to be based on scientific fact.

Update on Missouri farmer, J.R. Bollinger of Missouri, USA: See Carbon-Smart Corn article, Issue #34, November 2016
We have some news about farmer, J.R. Bollinger of Missouri, USA, whose biological methods for large-scale farming were the subject of the Carbon-Smart Corn article, reprinted from Acres USA magazine, in our November 2016 Issue #34 (pg 5). This article's length greatly exceeded our usual article size, but because it was so nutrient-dense with exciting applications used in a large conventional row-crop farm, we could not resist sharing it. Recently David Yarrow, the author of that article, shared some information regarding Bollinger's farm and costs. He said that by cutting his fertilizer bills by 50%, Bollinger saved over US$100 per acre (US$100,000) on input costs; we are unable to translate that to Belize dollars because landed costs here would include freight and duty. Bollinger's $100,000 USD savings on former input costs is worth a further look. For his 2016 corn crop, Bollinger used the same carbon-smart methods, planting with the same 6 inch strips as in 2015, and still with 50% fertilizers (compared to 2014 use). He harvested 330 bushels (18,480 lbs) per acre in 2016 and had the #1 yield for corn for the state of Missouri.

The Dairy Industry in Spanish Lookout An Interview with Frank Friesen and Ernie Thiessen
If a Belizean dairy farmer wants to rapidly improve his herd's genetics, he has 3 choices: live dairy cattle importation, artificial insemination, or embryo transfer. The first dairy bull of some merit brought into Spanish Lookout was a Holstein, flown in from Pennsylvania about 50 years ago, by Joe Friesen, Sr. Many high-producing, locallyborn acclimated cows resulted. Belizean dairy farmers have learned that animals born in Belize will out-produce almost any imported blood-lines, and so have moved for the most part to artificial insemination (AI) and now are moving to embryo transfers as a more affordable alternative to importing single animals. Also, percentages have increased to make each resulting animal more affordable.

Beyond the Backyard: What on Earth?
My friend recently hurt his back and was prescribed some pretty heavy- duty unpronounceable medication that was also very expensive. He asked me if I knew of holistic alternatives. I suggested these potent pain killers: bone broth full of glucosamine; turmeric (yellow ginger) as it contains curcumin which is an anti- inflammatory; capsaicin (from chili pepper) which decreases pain signals to the brain and 'tuna' which contains taurine. "Tuna!! What on earth!" I was not referring to tuna fish but a cactus Jamaicans call tuna and we in Belize call nopal or prickly pear.

A Case for Changing Agriculture in Belize
In the early 1970's, the late Earl L. Butz, 18th US Secretary of Agriculture, famously said, " Before we go back to organic agriculture in this country, somebody must decide which 50 million Americans we are going to let starve or go hungry." This came at a time when the American biologist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug was pioneering the Green Revolution at the Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Ma�z y Trigo (CIMMYT) in Mexico. The Green Revolution brought about significant increases in the yield of a select few agricultural crops through the adoption of various new technologies including, but not limited to, high yielding grain varieties, advanced irrigation systems and the extensive usage of synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Ironically, this relatively new form of farming became known as "conventional" and traditional methods of farming were placed under the blanket term "organic" and, in many circles, became a testy topic of conversation.Organic agriculture became an ideology, one that had to give way to the banner of scientific innovation. In a flare of reductionism, the ultimate goal of conventional agriculture became higher yields per unit area.

BEL-CAR Updates
As we go to press, the bean harvest in Spanish Lookout, Cayo District is in progress. Bel-Car states that there is less acreage in black-eyes for this season, possibly up to 50% less, for several reasons. Roughly 12,000 (100 lb) bags of corn were harvested by Bel- Car farmers. 'A' grade corn price for Spanish Lookout has been listed as N/A - not available - on our centerfold Prices at a Glance page, for quite some time, as it is not sold in bulk, but rather used in the production of high quality corn meal.

National Coconut Stakeholders Platform Meets in Blue Creek, Orange Walk District
On Friday 31 March, the NCSP had its bimonthly meeting at the coconut farm of Sergio and Tina Marraquin. Almost all of the 12 original committee members plus many visitors who were all interested in learning more about the potentials of coconut farming in Belize made the trek to the remote Mennonite village in the northwest corner of Belize. Mr. Manuel Trujillo, Crops Coordinator of Central Farm called the meeting to order, and Ms. Omaira Avila, our (relatively) new Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) country representative took the reins of the meeting. As CARDI is officially appointed as the 'focal point', contracted to manage and fulfill the agronomical part of this Bz$5 M project, Ms. Avila reminded the group throughout the morning of the various tasks needing to be accomplished before the ending of this project in January of 2019.

National Agriculture and Trade Show
The 47th annual National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) was opened on Friday 28th April under the theme "Let's Get Growing". The opening ceremony was highlighted by keynote addresses by University of Belize's new president Dr. Clement Sankar; and Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Godwin Hulse; and by the presentation of the Farmers of the Year awards. Male Farmer of the Year went to Mr. Gary Canto of Cayo District; Female Farmer of the Year was Ms. Mirva Flowers of Toledo District, and Junior Farmer of the Year was awarded to Mr. Santiago Gutierrez of Cayo District. NATS chairman Mr. Gary Ramirez estimated that close to 40,000 people visited the 3 day fair, which concluded on Sunday 30th April, at the newly renovated show grounds in Belmopan.

Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) in the Sugar Industry
On April 12, 2017 the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), the Government of Belize (GOB) and the European Union (EU) held a first-of-its-kind Integrated Pest and Disease Management Seminar at SIRDI's headquarters in Buena Vista Village, Corozal District. A total of 185 stakeholders, including sugarcane farmers, sugarcane farmers associations, community leaders, students and NGOs, attended. Many farmers and stakeholders from the northern sugar belt are now well-versed and prepared to tackle the main pest in the sugarcane field known as the froghopper.

AgScience for Better Crops: Plant Disease Management
Agriculture in Belize has experienced a rapid expansion and diversification of crop production. Such changes come with increased challenges that growers have no control over and must learn to adopt and implement effective management practices. Currently the increase of pest and diseases remain a major threat to crop production. Moreover, there are main factors contributing to plant disease management, which include 1) the demand for safe and diverse food to support the growing population, 2) reduced agriculture production, 3) ecology of agro-ecosystem deterioration and natural resource depletion, and 4) increased disease epidemics from agricultural intensification and monocultures (He et al, 2016)

Neal Kinsey Soil Fertility Course
In the last days of February, Neal Kinsey arrived at University of Belize's College of Agriculture at Central Farm to present his Intro 2 course on soil fertility using the Kinsey-Albrecht system. This was Neal's 3rd teaching trip to Belize, and many of the participants had already attended one or both of his previous courses here. One of those repeating farmers said to Neal at the conclusion of the final class day, "Neal, you are changing the face of agriculture in Spanish Lookout". What higher accolade can be given to our friend Neal? Other student comments on the annual surveys which asked, "What did you gain from this course?" included: "a better understanding of the complex interaction among elements and soil types and water", Dottie Feucht.

Weed Control Using a Grit-Blaster
Weed scientist and USDA agronomist, Frank Forcella of Minnesota, U.S. solved two problems with one invention that he calls "PAGMan". The first problem was how to get rid of the pits from his bumper crop of apricots; the second was how to get rid of weeds in row crops. He says that combining those two into a single solution seemed silly at first but he and colleague, Dean Peterson, at the USDA North Central Soil Conservation Research Laboratory in Morris, Minnesota, bought a cheap sand blaster and started some simple experiments in a greenhouse. Their initial work involved growing weeds next to a corn plant; when the corn was about six inches tall and the weed was about one to three inches tall, the researchers blasted both with a split-second application of grit.

The Mighty Ceiba - Tree of Life
After Hurricane Earl took down our favorite birding tree, our "Giving Tree," we began to pay more attention to the ceiba tree that had been hiding behind, but stood strong through the storm. This particular tree is rooted at the base of the hill below us which gives us the unusual perspective of a peek into the upper branches of this fascinating tree. Over time we watched the tree drop its leaves, then bloom with delicate pink flowers that attracted many kinds of birds and wildlife. We then watched the blooms turn to small buds, then larger pods that have now burst open, releasing puffs of cottony clouds, filled with seeds. We have seen squirrels and kinkajous feasting on the pods and birds taking the kapok for their nests. It strikes me how few seeds from this tree actually make it to a proper place for germination. At first the tree was bursting with flowers, thousands of them. Many of the flowers were eaten or knocked off before being allowed to progress to the next stage. Once the small buds evolved, they became irresistible to all manner of creatures. Those buds that survived the feasting and grew to maturity still had to fight off the squirrels and toucans who continued to eat them, sometimes taking entire pods and often dropping them to the ground.

BLPA Holds AGM
The 39th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Belize Livestock Producers' Association (BLPA) was held on 25th February, 2017, at their headquarters, Mile 47.5 George Price Highway. Mr. Abdala Bedran gave the welcoming remarks, which preceded Dr. Henry Canton's Chairman's Address. BLPA General Manager Ms. Elba Cruz also shared remarks and introduced the keynote speaker, Minister Godwin Hulse.

Cattle Auction in Spanish Lookout
The March 4, 2017 cattle auction was a great success; 37 head of cattle and 3 horses were sold. We were privileged to have some Blue Creek producers bring a load of excellent breeding stock from there as well. There were 15 different owners selling cattle. The cattle were sold to 22 different buyers. Again I estimate more than 300 people came out for the event; 56 individuals registered to buy. People came from all over the country and also Peten, Guatemala. One bull was sold to a Guatemalan buyer. Weather was perfect: overcast with just a little bit of rain but not so much as to really interfere with the auction. Country Meats served us with a delicious steak for lunch.

An Overview of Land Taxes on Agricultural Property Past, Present and Future
In 2003 the government of Belize (GOB) took a serious look at land taxes, with regard to updating them. Many felt that the existing rates were too high for agricultural/productive sector lands and that owners were discouraged from further agricultural development on them. In 2004, Minister Fonseca signed Land Act No. 5 of 2004, which amended the Land Tax Act, Chapter 58. As well as amending the rates (see chart below from Land No. Act 5), it also redefined several categories which are also covered in the amending act. The law of 2004 included clarifications such as the following new definitions:

Industrial Hemp as Weed Killer
New scientific studies claim that glyphosate, found in Monsanto's Roundup® weed killer as well as in other pesticides, is causing serious health problems wherever it is used. These include but are not limited to: reproductive issues, birth defects, diabetes, autism, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, liver disease, as well as intestinal, digestive, kidney, and autoimmune disorders. The International Agency for Research on Cancer's recent report stating that glyphosate is a probable cause of cancer has made this a priority issue in farming communities throughout Belize.

The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water
Book Review By Chris Harris. "The golden age of water is over". That is the message of this comprehensive account of how we have taken water for granted over many decades. The fact is that 1.1 billion people of us do not have access to clean safe drinking water, and another 1.8 billion people do not have access to water in their homes. These are statistics [book published 2011] which should give us all pause for thought. And before we shrug those numbers off as a third world problem, we are reminded that Las Vegas, Los Angeles and large areas of American farmland are also threatened, not just with shortages, but rationing and even running out of water altogether. So this book really is a wake up call to us all.

Berries of Belize Part 1: Solanum Nigrum AKA Hierba Mora
The Mayas call it chayuk, but the Spanish, emphasizing both the leaf and the fruit in the name they gave it, called it mora after the Spanish word for blackberry or mulberry. In English we have been calling the fruits blueberries or wild huckleberries which they resemble more than either fruit in the mora category. A more correct English translation is nightshade; however since there are many nightshades, including tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplant, that name doesn't narrow it down much. But let's not worry much about names and turn to culture and usage. Indeed, useful and under-appreciated, hierba mora is a plant bearing both edible leaves and fruit. Hierba mora is normally not cultivated; it grows wild, often coming up on burnt land and plowed land and growing profusely, winter and summer. You can recognize this "weed" which grows to a small bush bearing blue-black berries, by the distinctly purple underside of the leaves. However, the seeds from the ripe berries can be sown in trays and planted in a garden about 3 feet apart. Like other nightshade plants, they are an annual plant which can be planted any time weather conditions are favorable. They do not fruit according to a season. For planting in a garden, both summer and winter work well.

Coffee in San Vicente Toledo District
Approximately 8 miles northwest from Jalacte, Toledo District, and resting in the hills along the Belize- Guatemalan border, sits the quiet off-the-grid village of San Vicente, a primarily Maya Ketchi community of about 35-40 family farms, where cultivation of black beans, organic cacao and the recent addition of organic coffee are the mainstays. Efrain Caal, local farmer and TCGA (Toledo Cacao Growers Association) extension officer, met us as we arrived in the community and introduced us to Marcus Kal, one of the leading farmers of the newly formed San Vicente Coffee Growers. In 2006 Marcus started transforming a completely cleared hillside, previously a cattle pasture, into an organic multi-cropped orchard.

The Wonders of Green Coffee
Several years ago I wrote an article for the Belize Ag Report about the benefits of used coffee grounds in the garden. In this article I would like to talk about green coffee and the reported health care properties. The coffee and its beans have a reputation as a dark, rich drink that many enjoy for its "pick me up" property in the morning and during the day. The beans must be roasted to achieve the desired effect and flavor. Unfortunately during the roasting process many of the benefits which occur naturally are lost. The Arabica coffee plant produces two hard green seeds or beans per coffee "cherry". These are fermented, cleaned, dried and bagged. Now they are ready for the roaster. In this form, green, coffee is very medicinal.

Senior Scientist and Professor from MIT Visits Belize
It was a rare privilege to welcome Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Senior Research Scientist at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. and her husband, Dr. Victor Zue, Director of International Relations, CSAIL and former director of the lab. Dr. Seneff's recent focus on the role of toxic chemicals and micronutrient deficiencies in health and disease, with a special emphasis on glyphosate and the mineral sulfur brought in-depth scientific knowledge to our understanding. Having authored over two dozen peer-reviewed journal papers over the past few years on these topics, she shared her findings on KREM and LOVE TV, and in presentations in Spanish Lookout and University of Belize College of Agriculture at Central Farm (UB/CF) and to Belize's Pesticide Control Board (PCB) as input to their re-registration and review process.

Inga Alley Cropping: An Innovative Method for Sustainable Agriculture
Many people have recently been asking the question of how to provide food for the growing Belizean population and protect the livelihoods of farmers while also maintaining the natural resources that attract tourists, providing jobs to a large number of Belizeans. How can we most efficiently use the land that is being farmed to produce a high yield without constantly needing to expand further into forested areas that benefit the agriculture industry and the country? Part of the solution may lie in inga alley cropping, a farming method that is being introduced to Belize after decades of testing at the Inga Foundation in Honduras. Whereas the traditional slash-and-burn practice involves rotating fields and has led to increased deforestation in some areas, inga alley cropping can be used to grow annual crops on the same piece of land for twenty years without the application of chemicals.

AG BRiefs
In March 2017, Belize welcomed back Dr. Gabriel Rodr�guez Marqu�s, a citizen of Uruguay, as the new country representative for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). Dr. Rodr�guez Marqu�s served as country representative in 2009 to 2010 during which period he supported the tourism sector study which led to the development of a tourism master plan for Hopkins.

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Issue #37-Aug 2017 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.
Click HERE to download the PDF

Biochar Implementation in Agricultural Systems of Belize
By Gerardo Ofelio Aldana. In addition to pressures to adapt to climate change, agricultural production demands include innovative and effective solutions to balance both food production and environmental sustainability (Lehmann and Joseph, 2015). Volatility in agricultural commodities, in parallel with population growth, have initiated an alarming concern as to whether the rates of agricultural production will be able to meet its future food demands. Recent years have shown an improvement in agricultural productivity, but future demands are uncertain, especially in light of environmental factors such as climate change (Sands et al., 2014). The climate problem is now extremely large and is drastically affecting our food production systems. What the future needs is solutions that will counteract a myriad of problems all�

Old Crops Become New: Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batata) Part 2
By Santiago Juan. An Underutilized Root Sweet potato is a plant grown for its tuberous roots in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate regions. As mentioned in the last Belize Ag Report, issue 36, sweet potato is cultivated for food in more than 100 countries, sometimes as a staple food but usually as an alternative food. All varieties of sweet potato are a good source of vitamins and minerals. In East Africa, the sweet potato is known as "the protector of children" because it is often the only food that stands between a child's survival and starvation. A fast-maturing perennial plant, it is grown mainly as an annual. The roots are adventitious, mostly located within the top 25�

Belmopan Weekend Farmers' Market at NATS Grounds
By Sally Thackery. The new pavilions at the Belmopan showgrounds are now open on Saturdays and Sundays for local farmers to sell their products to the public. Opening day, Saturday July 29, was lively and well-attended, by both the public and the market sellers. Big thanks to CEO Jose Alpuche and Show Grounds Coordinator Gary Ramirez for such a bright vision for this property at the entrance to Belmopan. The entire showgrounds have been cleaned up, mowed, landscaped with beautiful plants and vendor stalls have been colorfully painted. These detailed improvements also include a new entrance gate, bathrooms in all sections and designated parking areas.In addition to fresh vegetables, the market offers dry goods, eco-friendly cleaning products, fruit trees, flowering�

SIRDI EU IPDM Project: Metarhizium anisopliae Production to Control Froghopper in Sugar Cane
By Jeffy Gomez, Luciano Chi, Luis Gongora and Jian Cob. Froghopper is considered a major pest in sugarcane; every crop cycle it affects sugarcane farmers by increasing control costs while decreasing productivity. The problem is especially serious with the elimination of the preferential market for Belize's sugar. Hence, it is of great importance to start adapting more environmentally-friendly controls by deterring the use of chemicals and meeting standards set by the Fairtrade market. With the assistance of the European Union (EU), the Government of Belize (GOB) and the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), the project entitled "Strengthening of Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM) in the Sugar Industry" is being implemented in the northern sugar belt. The�

Beyond the Backyard: Suck Your Way to Health
By Jenny Wildman. I came across an article about a strange fruit that can boost your brain function - something all seniors think of when they cannot remember names or misplace their glasses. The picture was that of the fruit known here as kenep, kinnip or guayo. The deciduous, polygamous kenep tree is part of the soapberry family along with logan, rambutan and lychee, all cousins to the northern chestnut. The scientific name is Melicoccus bijugatus commonly referred to as Spanish lime, quenepa, genip, chennet, talpajocote and mamoncillo from the verb mamar to suck. Kenep trees are native to South America and the Island of Margarita and also found in drier woodlands and gardens of the Caribbean and Central America.�

2016 Domestic Export Trade Data Disaggregation

Rice: Circle R's Contribution to Food Security in Belize
By Jeffrey Maga�a. The highest priority for Circle R Products Limited, a farmer-owned business, is food security for Belize. Their newest product, Dalla Rice, was recently introduced to provide a 14 oz. package of grade A rice for $1. Harvest for Kids is grade A premium rice; Jade is grade B; Ruby, grade C and Topaz, grade D. The Harvest for Kids product is named for the socially responsible project it supports. A percentage of the sale of all Harvest for Kids rice goes to support Belize Camping Experience in Belize City, summer Bible camps and work with kids in schools throughout the city. We believe that if our children are inspired today, our country can become a better place.�

Fusarium spp.: An Important Disease of Soybeans
By Felix Cawich, Agronomist, M.Sc. Worldwide, soybean is considered an important crop for the production of oil and as a source of protein for people and animals. In addition, it´s now being used for biodiesel production. According to the Worldwide Web Foundation (WWF), soybean production has grown 10 times in the last 50 years, covering over one million square kilometres. The increasing production area, like the increase in yield of monocultivation, has also led to higher presence of disease in soy plantations. Furthermore, the varying climate may favor rapid development of diseases. Important Diseases Diseases originating from different microorganisms can cause blights, cankers, rots, rusts, wilts and others, causing damage to different parts of the plant at any given growth�

Fertility Needed for Growing Pastures and Hay
By Neal Kinsey. When the requirements for life-giving soil fertility to provide abundant plant growth and robust animal health are accurately considered, far too many pastures and hay fields used for livestock production are seriously lacking. Testing the soils in pastures and meadows has sadly proven this to be true far too often, even when only the absolute minimum nutrient content for those soils is considered. To treat your animals right you have to treat your soils right. Anything less and you rob from the total potential of life-giving principles for your soil, the plants grown there, the livestock that consume them and the products that are provided as a result. When soils are not cared for correctly, it is�

Modern Water Wisdom: An Interview
AUTHOR JUDITH SCHWARTZ EXAMINES WATER MANAGEMENT Reprinted with permission from Acres USA magazine, Vol.47, No.6 Interview: Author Judith Schwartz Examines Water Management

Homemade Health - Why and How to Use Essential Oil - Part 1
By Marguerite Fly Bevis, RN, BSN. This article, part 1 of a 2 part article on essential oils, describes their basic properties and why they are used. Part 2 will describe how to use them. Essential oils, the quintessential essence of medicinal plants, have been used by man for therapeutic purposes for thousands of years. They are mentioned in the Bible at least 600 times. Thirty-three different oils are mentioned. Essential oils are the original medicine upon which modern medicine is based. Birch and wintergreen contain salicylic acid, the same component in aspirin but essential oils are easier on the body and present fewer, if any, side effects, whereas modern medicines can have many, some of which can be more�

Belize Strengthening Partnerships by Applying "One Health"
By Dr. Joe Myers, DVM, BAHA. Medical and veterinary officers from Belize were trained to collaborate using "One Health" strategies in zoonotic and food-borne disease surveillance, diagnosis and preparedness and response, through a comprehensive two-year professional development programme, the One Health Leadership Series (OHLS). The OHLS is part of the regional One Health, One Caribbean, One Love Project, implemented by the University of the West Indies (UWI), School of Veterinary Medicine. The One Health project was funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the ACP Science and Technology Programme (S&T II), in collaboration with the 'Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Project', of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) Programme coordinated by Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).�

Control Postbloom Fruit Drop in Citrus Production
By Edwin Gomez, Raymond Arnold, David Saraiva and Davilmar Avilez.

Maya Mountain Heirloom Cacao
What Makes Belizean Cacao So Special? Understanding Genetics of Belizean Cacao Beans By Dan O'Doherty & Minehaha Forman. In the rapidly growing world of specialty craft chocolate, Belize has earned its place among the fine flavored origins of cacao. Known for its unique fruity/caramel flavor, Belize cacao has won numerous awards in recent years. Cacao beans originating from Maya villages in the Toledo district of Belize and processed by Maya Mountain Cacao, Ltd (MMC) recently received an heirloom designation from the Fine Chocolate Industry Association (FCIA). The cacao sample was made into chocolate and blind-tasted by a panel of nine veteran chocolate companies including Guittard, Valrhona, and Felchlin. Panelists universally praised the sample for its overall high quality, as�

Cannabis Hemp Building Materials
By Karin Westdyk. James Savage, a New York business analyst, was greatly disturbed after learning about mold problems making thousands of New Orleans homes uninhabitable after hurricane Katrina, and of the thousands killed in Haiti, crushed by their own homes during an earthquake. He searched for solutions and came up with a material that has been around for thousands of years and started a company to create building materials made from mold resistant, stronger-than-steel cannabis hemp. Hempcrete The outer portion of the hemp stalk has a long history of use for producing paper, fabric, rope and sails (the word canvas comes from the word cannabis), but Savage discovered that hemp chips made from the woody interior of the cannabis plant�

Nematodes - Friend and Foe
by Mary Loan. Nematodes are non-segmented worms that live everywhere on the planet, including in ice and snow to the depths of the ocean and even in arid deserts. They are most abundant in tropical regions of the world, like Belize. Other names they are known as include: eel worms, thread worms, root knot worms. There are thousands of identified species of nematodes with estimates of about one-half million varieties to be 'discovered', studied and named. Most nematodes are almost invisible to the human eye and are less than 1 mm, or 1/125 of an inch in length. There are generally thousands of nematodes in a handful of soil, over one million in a spadeful, and as many as three�

The Humanure Handbook - A Review by Chris Harris
This is the book no one would publish. Why? Because it deals in some detail with a subject distasteful to some, uncomfortable to others and "something we just don't talk about " to yet more. So the author, Joseph Jenkins, published it himself. And in the process he did us all a big favour. OK, so what is this "taboo subject"? Well it deals with the subject of the ecological disposal of human waste. At first glance the author's ideas amount to little more than an advanced view of the "bucket and chuck it" approach used in many rural areas of the world already. But here comes the rub. Jenkins applauds the "bucket" idea, but strongly challenges the "chuck it"�

Dear Veggie Detective
Dear Veggie Detective, Would you please investigate the mystery of the white-centered tomato? Why do some tomatoes have white centers and others are all red and tasty? Signed, Tomato Lover Dear Tomato Lover, Your mystery is solved! Tomatoes with white centers have a deficiency in potassium, an element abbreviated as K because phosphorus was assigned the letter P. Basic fertilizers that you buy have three main elements: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and are designated in 3 numbers which corresponds to these three elements. If your soil doesn't need N or P you can buy elemental potassium fertilizer. Potassium will give you not only the nice red color on your tomatoes but bigger fruit�

Ag Briefs
UB CF announces that the next Neal Kinsey Soil Fertility 3 day course will be held the week of August 27th (note this has been changed from the dates in the previous Ag Report). This will be a repeat of the very well-received Intro 2 Course given in February. To register, contact David Thiessen at 670-4817 or [email protected]. Limited registration. Avocados reached the highest prices in the US over 19 years early this summer, at $28 USD/10 kilos, due to lowered yields caused by bad weather and other problems in the main producing countries of Mexico (strikes), Peru (floods), Chile (droughts) and the US (California droughts). Avocado as colorant: Researchers at Penn State, USA, inadvertently discovered that avocado�

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Issue #38-Sep 2017 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.

Unleashing the Potential of Under-utilised Crops: Breadfruit By Santiago Juan
Belize has been blessed with edible landscapes. Take breadfruit, or masapan in Spanish, for example. In Belize you can see breadfruit growing in all our districts. In both northern districts you see old trees still producing well in very calcareous soils; in southern Belize large trees can be seen in low lying areas and brackish water like in Hopkins Village or along the Sittee River, a testament to the great adaptation ability of this humble plant. Most Belizeans have eaten breadfruit at least once in their lifetime; yet it is probably the most underutilized crop growing in Belize. Nowadays, it is attracting the attention of gourmets and some Caribbean countries are making small shipments to the United States, Canada and�

To The Editor
Dear Editor, Yes, I love that you have both print and online versions and really love the Ag Report! It's been such a great tool to find people and places that provide needed materials. It's so helpful for us as far as providing information about local/medicinal plants and growing/processing methods in tropical conditions. I think my favorite part is that it includes the voice of so many people and allows them to respectfully share their opinions, information and the diverse projects that are happening in their areas. Thanks for all of your hard work and efforts to bring to light the wealth of knowledge here! Cissy Stanko, Rancho Dolores, Belize District

Cheese Making By Nadege Thomas
Our average milk production varies from 2 pints to half a gallon per goat so during milking season, we can get anywhere from 4 to 6 gallons of milk per day; it takes about 2 gallons of milk to yield one to one-and-a-half pounds of cheese, depending on the cheese being made. While Eber, our livestock manager, and I were busy putting the herd together, our construction crew built a "cheese house", a special place for me to make the cheeses, et voila! "La Fromagerie" at Mystic River Resort was born. We have been supplying all the cheeses and yogurt for the resort ever since, and have even recently added a "Wine & Cheese Tasting" palapa for our guests to sample some of our creations. We offer the tasting by appointment only and it truly is a lot of fun.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade - Trade Opportunities with Cuba
By John Rivero Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), the Honourable Patrick Faber, made an official visit to the Republic of Cuba from 22nd to 26th of May 2017. The objective of this state visit was to strengthen a bi-lateral relationship with Cuba. He was accompanied by a delegation of ten from the Government of Belize which included ministers, CEOs, directors, and Ambassador Burns accredited to Cuba. Belize and Cuba have always had good relations but bi-lateral trade and investment have been almost insignificant despite an existing trade agreement in place. The CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (TECA), originally signed by both parties in 2000, was recently re-negotiated with a sScond Protocol to amend the TECA. Belize's trade officials have learnt,�

Beyond the Backyard Aloe: An Excellent Choice By Jenny Wildman
Aloe vera has been revered as a healing plant for centuries and graces gardens throughout the world. The Maya called it the fountain of youth. Others know it as the immortality plant, savila, kumari, first aid plant, Barbados aloe, crocodile tail, lily of the desert, xabila, simple Bible, single Bible and here in Creole sink am Bible, names showing confidence in its power to cure most ailments. There are hundreds of species of aloe but only one proudly carrying the name "true" ie: aloe vera or Aloe barbadensis which is thought closely related to the Aloe perryl endemic to Yemen. Aloe vera originated in northern Africa and is depicted on murals in the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs, where it�

AgScience for Better Crops: Plant Nutrition By Felix C. Cawich
All living organisms require nutrients for adequate growth, development and functionality in order to survive. Plants have the capacity to produce their own food through the conversion of light energy into a sugar (glucose), in a process called photosynthesis, which is the base of biomass formation. For this, plants require sufficient light, suitable temperature, substances such as CO2, oxygen and a number of nutrients (FAO, 2006). As plant constituents, nutrients play a vital role in biochemical reactions, and the production of organic material. To obtain high agricultural yields an optimal nutrient program is required, whereby plants absorb nutrients from soil reserves or external sources, where water is the main carrier. Nutrients can be added either to the soil or leaves�

Establishing A Coconut Plantation By George Emmanuel & Omaira Avila Rostant
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) is a palm that flourishes in tropical and subtropical areas, the fruit of which has many uses; it has been a major ingredient in the diets of many people living on tropical islands, creating a very lucrative industry worldwide. In recent years, the demand for coconut product has increased exponentially. It was reported that from 2008 to 2014 alone the demand for coconut products increased 700%, especially for water, milk, oil, fibres, and cosmetics. Such hasty growth has increased the demand for establishing plantations that can supply the high worldwide demand for coconuts. In Belize this opportunity has encouraged the establishment of acres of coconuts in new plantations. Here are some factors to be considered and recommendations�

Coconut Oil Standards By Dottie Feucht
The coconut oil industry in Belize recently had a big boost in terms of standards and specifications for quality. Standards Officer Lloyd Orellano, from Belize Bureau of Standards, assisted by Omaira Avila Rostant, from Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) presented them on September 28 at Central Farm. Omaira's expertise in growing and processing coconuts filled in experiential details to the standards. Coconut oil comes from the mature kernel of the coconut (Cocos nucifera Linnaeus) by a process of expression (extraction by using pressure), solvent extraction or other approved method of processing. In addition to common standards, such as it must be free from admixture with other oils or fats, there are specific ones for the three types of�

Slow Release Fertilisers from Pyrolysis of Agricultural Residues
Creating Value out of Agricultural residues to Regenerate Soil Fertility By Ingrid Espinoza, Stephen Joseph, Vasco Masias & Felix Froese We thank the International Biochar Initiative and Grupos Alimenta SAC for reprint permission. http://www.biochar-international.org For more about spirulina, see article pg 20 of the PDF of Issue #38

Agriculture Prices at a Glance - November 2017

Homemade Health - Spirulina - Ancient Superfood By Marguerite Fly Bevis RN,BSN
I first learned about Spirulina from Dr. Harold Foster, PhD, who studied medical geography at the University College of London and taught as a professor at University of Victoria for 41 years. I was privileged to hear him speak and in many ways he changed my life that day. He said that his research indicates that by taking spirulina and selenium every day along with a high oxidant diet, the immune system would function properly and many illnesses could be prevented or improved. His work with AIDS and HIV patients in Africa had phenomenal results. Unfortunately, there was little interest in inexpensive treatments so the information was largely ignored. Thankfully today there are people willing to look at alternatives and�

BAHA Shares Cattle News: National Herd Increases 25%
BAHA's Dr. Miguel Depaz shared the following report: "The Cattle Industry is seeing its better days as exports for this year have already reached 4,872 heads and cattle farmers are now getting more that the accustomed .95 cents per pound live weight. Prices reached as high as 3.50 per pound live weight for export and have stabilized at approximately 2.50 per pound live weight. Despite the consistent rate of export the national herd has seen a growth of more than 25%. The national cattle census today is at 126,129 heads. Through the hard work of the Government of Belize, Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) and the private sector, they have scientifically demonstrated that the national cattle herd is free of�

CARDI Day 2017
Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) CARDI Day 2017 CARDI is turning 43 years assisting the region to develop. It was established in 1974 to serve the agricultural research and development needs of the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARDI is positioned to enhance the socio-economic well-being of the Caribbean people through research for development that improves the competitiveness and sustainability of regional agriculture. On the 5th of December CARDI Day will be celebrated. This annual event on the institute's calendar is dedicated to building awareness and promoting the work of the institute. A major focus of the day's activities will be the sharing of our research results, impacts and success stories with the general public, partners,�

Aerial Application as a Tool for Increased Efficiency for Pest and Disease Control
By Alan McCracken The application techniques of pesticides has unfortunately not been developed to the same extent as the pesticides themselves. It is well known and recognized that pyrethroid insecticides work by contact and ingestion action and no vapor effect, which means that for good results they must be delivered to the target insect. The alternative is to obtain poor crop coverage and wait for the insects to find the chemical. Firstly let us examine the reason for applying agrochemicals. The answer although obvious is not always understood; it is to protect the genetic potential of the crop being grown. For this reason the chemical products may be more correctly termed plant protection products and our objective should be to�

2017 World Food Day
Part of the talk given by The Honorable Godwin Hulse, Minister of Agriculture, at World Food Day, held at the Belize High School of Agriculture (BHSA) in San Lorazo, Orange Walk District on October 20th, was the same one his father gave to him when he was young. He said that his dad told him to stop saying that he grew rice because he did not make the sun, the soil, or the rain that grows the rice; he was only the manager of what God had given him. His dad also told him not to exploit his fellow man and to leave some in the field for the creatures as food. Minister Hulse said such management is the foundation�

Berries of Belize - Part 2 By Deborah Harder
A good fruit for Northerners, mulberry is reminiscent of northern berries you can't grow here. Mulberries grow on a large bush and can bear abundantly without much care. Actually, up north, they are a neglected fruit, growing perhaps too abundantly and despised in favour of harder-to-grow berries like blueberries. One of life's little ironies, because in my opinion they have a delicious flavour superior to northern blueberries. Mulberry is started from cuttings but can be purchased from your nursery-rooted and ready to plant. For a small family, several bushes should yield enough to can or freeze some. After a crop is harvested the bushes may be pruned of old growth to keep them low and stimulate new growth. Use: when�

Unplanted Bounty By Sally Thackery
Composting is a must for gardeners, and sometimes provides an unexpected bounty. Although I don't remember ever seeing this type of squash, apparently some seeds made their way to my large compost area, because these vines began to appear almost immediately after careful planting of many varieties of vegetable seeds. If you're looking for a way to feed your entire neighborhood or town, this would be your answer. When picked young, these squash don't have to be peeled, but they grow a hard outer shell if left to mature. The young ones are quite tasty, firm with lots of flavor. Just cube and saut� in butter, salt and pepper to let the most flavor shine through. You will need a�

Hemp Food By Karin Westdyk
Food from hemp for humans and animals dates back to the beginning of recorded history, and for thousands of years it was the largest agricultural crop grown worldwide. Hemp was relied on for not only food, but for fuel, fiber, paper, industrial source materials, and medicine. In 1801 Thomas Jefferson, a hemp farmer and third president of the United States, declared, "Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country - if people let the government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." Though in the early days, farmers were encouraged to grow�

Bamboos for Belize by Marquita Stanko and Taylor Walker
Bamboos are some of the most useful plant species on earth. There are over 1000 species of bamboo distributed throughout the world that have been used for many practical purposes throughout history such as building shelter, making everyday tools and utensils and even as a food product. Bamboos originate from tropical, subtropical and temperate climates and grow on a wide range of soils. Many of the finest native and non-native bamboo species thrive right here in Belize. Our bamboo project began in 2005 in Rancho Dolores, Belize District with the formation of Tropical Agro-Forestry, Ltd. Our desire was to introduce new varieties in Belize that exhibit exceptional characteristics for use in furniture making, landscaping and interior construction. We began working�

White Flies - Gardeners' Nightmare By Mary Loan
White flies (Thialeurodes vaporariorum) comprise the family Aleyrodidae. They are typically 1/16 inch long, somewhat triangular shaped, soft bodied, flying moth-like white insects which are closely related to aphids and mealy bugs. More than 1550 species of white flies have been identified. By all accounts, they are all considered to be one of the most bothersome, destructive and challenging garden pests to control and, as a result, cost millions of dollars in agricultural losses yearly due to stunted growth and low production of crops and other plant losses world-wide. An infestation of the dreaded insects can be identified by observing the undersides of plant leaves in the garden, green house and plant nurseries. If you note thick swarms of small�

Coconut Coir Production in Cayo at Belize Botanic Gardens By Gayle Zentz
In April of 2016, the owner of duPlooy's Jungle Lodge and Belize Botanic Gardens, Judy duPlooy, decided to convert a local waste product, coconut husks, into something useful - coconut coir. For centuries, many cultures have used coconut fiber for items such as ropes, mats, sacking, upholstery padding and brushes. It's also useful as a mulch and a soil amendment. DuPlooys picks up empty coconut husks from coconut water processors in Cayo District where the coconuts have been harvested and drained of their coconut water. Their MerryMac commercial chipper can process about 1600 coconut husks per hour. There is no waste as everything is used. The coir from their facility is either used at the resort and gardens grounds or�

A Natural History of Belize - Inside the Maya Forest By Samuel Bridgewater
Living in Belize, we hear and read much about the living Mesoamerican reef which lies off our shores, and its prolific wildlife. This is rightly a major tourist attraction and occupies most of our attention when thinking of our country's natural beauty and complexity. This is largely because of its easy accessibility. However another world class natural beauty exists in Belize which does not get the same level of publicity. At 177,000 hectares, one can hardly describe the Chiquibul forest as hidden away, although its lack of accessibility is one of the reasons it has remained relatively undisturbed over the centuries. So it is high time that the Chiquibul take centre stage and be shown for what it is: a world class centre of natural diversity, not matched by many countries around the world. This then is a book that casts a broad light on a little known area of Belize. The Chiquibul is indeed hard to access, and the scientists who have made it their life's work deserve great credit for their perseverance in what is a pretty hostile environment. It is not for nothing that a member of the British Army (BATSUB) told me that this dense forest full of insects, animals and even plants which do not welcome the casual visitor is the toughest jungle training environment in the world.

Ag Briefs
UB CF announces that the next Neal Kinsey Soil Fertility 3 Day course will be held the week of August 27th, 2018. This will be a repeat of the very well-received Intro 2 course given in February. To register, contact David Thiessen at 670-4817 or [email protected]. Mexico's Yucatan state fair, Feria Yucatan, will be held at X'matkuil from 10th November through 3 December, 2017. The cattle opening ceremonies will be on 10th November. Beef master judging starts on the 14th; Brangus and Suizo Europe on 16th; Simmental and Simbrah on 18th; Brahman on 19th; Nelore on 21st; Guzerat on 22nd;Gyr and resena de Sindi on 23rd. Horse classes will be 3rd Dec. More information at feriayucatan.gob.mx CARDI Day - December�

Issue #39 - March 2018 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!
Click HERE to download the PDF

Ramon - Also Known as Maya Nut
Brosimum alicastrum, is a member of the fig/mulberry family can be considered as one of the 'miracle trees' found in our forests. It has over 50 common names but we may know it as Maya Nut, Ram�n tree, or Iximche (Corn Tree). The name Iximche derived from the classical Maya Ixim - corn or grain, and Che - Tree. The Spanish name Ramon derives from the word 'ramonear', meaning 'to forage' and makes reference to one of the widespread uses of the tree as feed for livestock. Maya Nut refers to the seed of the tree and is known as being a nutrient dense food that was a staple in the diet of the Maya civilization.

The Sweet and Sour of Sugar
The latest export figures for 2017 highlight the significance of the sugar industry to the country; 35% ($157.8 Million) of the total national export revenues of $445.6 Million is derived from the exports of sugar (and molasses). The figure in 2016 was only $110 Million, reflecting a substantial 43% increase. With the addition of Santander entering the production phase, the volume of sugarcane production and processing has significantly pushed national output levels. Cumulatively in 2016, the national sugarcane deliveries rose by 24.6% to 1,455,053 long tons, of which the North and Santander accounted for 1,292,515 long tons and 162,538 long tons, respectively.

Beyond the Backyard
By Jenny Wildman - Driving from north to south one can find tall droopy berry trees following the paths of our inhabitants. Considering that the berry tree grows so profusely it is surprising that there is very little information on its taxonomy and uses. In fact, even its name is in question as there are plants of similarity and several varieties within that species. Perhaps we can pull them out of the woodwork and take a closer look.

Homemade Health - Essential Oils - Part 2
Why and How to Use Essential Oils - Part 2 By Marguerite Fly Bevis, RN, BSN This article, part 2 on how to use essential oils, follows part 1 in the Belize Ag Report, August 2017, issue 37, which described the basic properties of essential oils and why they are used. See also Issue 30, November 2015, for background information. There are several ways to use essential oils. Diffusing is a way to "clean the air" as the tiny particulars destroy microbes in the air. Inhaling, simply smelling the drops on a cotton ball for 90 seconds is an easy and safe method. Diluting in a carrier oil such as coconut oil and applying to the skin or affected area�

Industrial Hemp Cultivation in the Tropics
It is important to understand the differences between industrial hemp and marijuana. Technically, industrial hemp and marijuana are from the same plant genus: Cannabis. However, the genetics of industrial hemp and marijuana have evolved from different subspecies and there are many important chemical and physical differences.

Pesticide Import Data 2015-2017
Tables & Charts: Pesticide Import Totals, Top ten most imported pesticides, Total Kg of Active Ingredients - by Year, Total Kg of Active Ingredients - by Class

Energy Production from Organic Waste
Reliable energy is critical to all world governments and available renewable energy production has become a focus of industry worldwide. Belize purchases about 46% of the country's power from Mexico at a cost of $137 million USD per year, 38% from Belize Electric Company Ltd., 2% from Hydro Maya, and 10% from Belize Aquaculture Ltd. Belize Electric Company Ltd., and Hydro Maya produce power from dams that supply hydro power generation.

Spanish Lookout Community Statistics - 2017
Agriculture production statistics chart for the Spanish Lookout Community 2017.

SOS: Save our Soils
Dr. Christine Jones Explains the Life-Giving Link Between Carbon and Healthy Topsoil. To the pressing worldwide challenge of restoring soil carbon and rebuilding topsoil, the Australian soil ecologist Dr. Christine Jones offers an accessible, revolutionary perspective for improving landscape health and farm productivity. For several decades Jones has helped innovative farmers and ranchers implement regenerative agricultural systems that provide remarkable benefits for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, water management and productivity.

Rainfall Reports for 2017
Rainfall reports for 2017 from various agricultural communities and sources, with charts and graphs brought together for us by Dottie Feucht.

Preparing Soil Fertility for New Plantings of Deep Rooted Crops
Preparing new soil for planting can make significant differences in plant growth - some good and some bad - depending on several important, but too often overlooked, considerations. It may be dressed up in one way or another, but taken as a whole, those whose goal is only to sell fertilizer generally use some type of feed the plant program. Too many who offer advice about what fertilizers to use have never been taught to understand any other way!

The Protein Bank - A Project For Cheaper Feed
Like many small farmers, here at White Rock Farm we have heavy feed bills for our poultry, pigs, sheep and goats. We have been looking for ways to mitigate this burden, and came across the idea of a "protein bank". We're also looking for feed which will be more nutritious, more natural, and more sustainable. We're very conscious that we depend heavily on corn and corn derivatives, and corn prices can fluctuate quite a bit.

Seven Miles Women's Group and Farmers Association
November 2017 was an exciting month for the El Progresso (Seven Miles) community located near the Chiquibul National Park; two groups there are grant recipients, beneficiaries of the project entitled, "Promoting Sustainable Natural Resource-based Livelihoods in Belize (PSNRL)" being implemented by the Government of Belize, funded by the Japan Social Development Fund, and administered by the World Bank. The objective of the PSNRL is aimed at "promoting viable and sustainable natural resource-based livelihoods for poor communities in Belize and, thereby, reducing anthropogenic pressures on key natural resources".

Canning Tropical Fruits
The potential abundance of fruit in our tropical climate creates a preservation paradox. You don't "need" to can fruit because with the right effort and planning, you can have some kind of fruit year-round, or nearly so. But when you really have lots of a certain kind, it's hard for the thrifty householder to see it spoil. So we can fruit, stockpiling for the winter that never comes. I have mixed feelings about canning, but I do it, and you can too if you want to.

Sapodilla Trees in Belize
Growing and harvesting sapodilla trees have been an important contribution for nutrition, healing, chicle production, building and boosting the economy of Belize for many centuries. Many birds and animals depend on the sapodilla tree for food and shelter. Sapodilla, also known as naseberry, chicle tree, dilly, chiku or chico. The tree is a hardy, slow-growing, long-living evergreen which can grow in the wild up to one hundred feet in height.

Friesen Cattle Auction
Cattle Auctions in Spanish Lookout are becoming an annual tradition for the Joe Freisen family. Joe Jr and Eva Friesen hosted a successful auction on Saturday, 17th February 2018 at their facility in the Iguana Creek area of Spanish Lookout.

Ag Calendar

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Issue #40 - May 2018 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!
Click HERE to download the PDF

ICDF/TTM Improvement in Sheep
The cattle and poultry industries in Belize just had a boost: sheep. The Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project, which began in December, 2015, was to be a 3 year project but due to problems acquiring purebred Barbados Black Belly and Dorper sheep, the project has been extended to December, 2019. Now having acquired 45 local Dorper from breeder/farmer, Amando Carillo in Orange Walk and 29 Dorper and 16 Barbados Black Belly from the U.S., the breeding program began in earnest in the past month. The inauguration ceremony took place on 15 March 2018 at the site of the project at Central Farm with the background baaing of the 125 sheep that were currently housed there.

Carbon Farming
Carbon Farming�what is it? The organization Drawdown (www.drawdown.org) identifies some of the practices that small holders in Belize traditionally practiced as being excellent ways to drawdown carbon. In his book, Carbon Farming, Eric Toeinsmeier identifies some of these practices as "carbon farming". The use of trees, regenerative agriculture, food forests and tropical staple foods are ways farmers can repair damaged soils while reducing vulnerability to climate variability and obtain significant yields over time.

Hierba Mora
Hierba mora, Solanum nigrum (night shade), is a species in the Solanum genus that refers collectively to a wide-ranging group of plants, including poisonous, medicinal, and edible species such as three major crops of global importance: tomato, potato, and eggplant. Hierba mora is not native to Belize but has been in the Americas long enough that it is now naturalized. It is native to Eurasia and was introduced in the Americas, Australasia, and South Africa.

To the Editor
Dear Editors, I was completely unprepared for the swift destruction of rainforest and its rapid conversion to mile after mile of what will soon be irrigated sugarcane fields here in the Cayo district. Within a few short weeks the devastation was complete: GONE! Rainforest� GONE! Animal habitats� GONE! Birds� and as soon as the giant rolls of plastic tubing can be distributed around the fields, gallons and gallons of water from the Belize River will be GONE! The sugar industry will add some jobs to the economy of Belize. However, at what cost? Consider the loss to future generations of the biodiversity of Belize, the additional costs in healthcare due to heavy consumption of sugar and sugar sweetened products, and�

Belize National Citrus Conference
The 105 year old citrus industry had its first-ever national citrus conference held on 18 April 2018 at the host Belagro's Belmopan warehouse of the Big Creek Group of Companies. Belagro's Manager Wilbert Ramclam moderated the very successful event. The forum was attended by 100 or so participants, that included citrus growers, GOB officials, representatives of the processing company, and other stakeholders.

Coconut Water Standards
by Dottie Feucht. In issue 38 of the Belize Ag Report we included a report on the CARICOM regional standards for coconut oil. This is a summary of the standards for natural coconut water which is defined as undiluted, natural, untreated clear liquid endosperm of the coconut without additives. If you buy commercially prepared coconut water labeled Packaged Natural Coconut Water according to these standards you can be sure that the coconuts used were harvested seven to nine months after pollination; that no fallen coconuts were used; that the composition in terms of sugars, acids, fats and ash are within specified range; that the quality in terms of physiochemical and microbiological limits is met; that it is free of contaminants�

Beyond the Backyard
The Humblest of Roots by Jenny Wildman. I have eaten many a root vegetable in soup, stews, boil up, mashed, fried and every which way, some more flavorful than others. In this category I would include beets, carrots, parsnips, salsify, potatoes, yams, turnips, swedes, manglewurzels, taro, cassava and coco yams. Although we may include bulbs, corms, rhizomes and root stems, the true definition of a root vegetable is a taproot or tuberous root. Most of these are considered by many to be the staple foods of the poor not fit for much else than livestock. The humblest of these is the turnip. They grow all over the world but having never seen any in Belize, I was pleasantly surprised to�

Caribbean Food Crops Society to Meet in Belize
The Caribbean Food Crops Society (CFCS) will celebrate its 54th Annual Meeting from July 8 to 13, 2018 at the Ramada Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City. The theme of this year's meeting is "Multi-functionality of Agriculture in the Caribbean Basin in Countries with Predominant Tourist Industries". Hosting the annual meeting of CFCS in Belize was brought about by a January 2018 meeting between Dr. Wilfredo Colon, Chair and CEO of the CFCS and the Honorable Godwin Hulse and his staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration. The weeklong annual meeting will consist of keynote speeches, scientific presentations, technical sessions, farmers' forums, field trips, and social and cultural activities.

Jackfruit
by Marquito Stanko. With fruits weighing from 10 pounds to over 70 pounds growing from its trunk and lower branches, this tree begs for a second look and in more ways than one! Not only is the jackfruit an amazing fruit to behold, it's also a highly versatile, resilient and nutritious tree crop that is suitable for growing in many areas of Belize. Jackfruit is known scientifically as Artocarpus heterophyllus. There are many common names like jakfruit, jak, jaca, chakka, nangka, langka, khanun, khnor, mak mi and jaqueira to name quite a few. It is in the Moraceae family along with breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), champedak (Artocarpus integer), mulberry (Morus sp.), and fig (Ficus sp.). Native to India, Malaysia and other�

Our Vanishing Wetlands
Roughly half of the world's wetlands are lost, mostly occurring within the past 150 years. Making up only 1.5% of the Earth's surface, wetlands provide about 40% of global ecosystem services. Recent Google Earth© images and drone flights over the Belize River valley reveal very high wetland losses from agriculture, mostly occurring within the past 30 years. We are losing wetlands so rapidly around the world and in Belize because most people do not know what wetlands are, considering them wastelands rather than valuable ecosystems critical to our survival.

2018 National Agriculture & Trade Show
Belize's National Agriculture & Trade Show (NATS) officially opened in Belmopan on Friday 27th April, 2018 under the theme "Let's Get Growing". The Governor General, Sir Colville N. Young, inspected the BDF Guard of Honor, followed by the welcoming address by The Mayor of Belmopan, Mr. Khalid Belisle. Guest speaker Mrs. Sandra Bedran, Managing Director of the Atlantic Bank Ltd., spoke about the many opportunities in agriculture, including many servicing our tourism industry. Keynote speaker Honourable Godwin Hulse, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, The Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration, discussed the improvements in the show, including many infrastructure improvements of buildings and gardens, creating a more functional venue not only for the NATS but for other events throughout the year. �

Spanish Lookout Expo
Every other year Spanish Lookout hosts its Expo at Countryside Park with an increasing number of attendees, exhibitors and activities. Held this year on March 2nd and 3rd, the Expo drew 17,500 attendees from all over the country, a 10% increase over Expo 2016. The well-organized parking accommodated the increased number of buses of school students, attendees and exhibitor vehicles.

Industrial Hemp Production in Belize
On Tuesday, 13th March 2018 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, The Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration (MAFFESDI), the Attorney General's office, Caribbean Agriculture Research & Development Institute (CARDI), Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) and other GOB concerned parties invited stakeholders to join them in a packed NATS Conference Room for a full day of presentations and discussions about the potential of an industrial hemp industry for Belize.

Albrecht's Soil Fertility Work
by Neal Kinsey. Some fifty years ago, when first becoming acquainted with Dr. William Albrecht and his work, and perhaps even far longer than that, it was felt by many in agricultural education (but Dr. Albrecht was not one of them) that those doing the farming were not smart enough to understand the basic "science" of agriculture. If that were ever true, such times are far gone based on what farmers need to know and understand to farm in this day and age. Now there seems to be a much different push to discourage farmers from learning the basics of soil fertility. The claim is that farmers don't have enough time to learn all the facts for themselves. Teach them�

Homemade Health
In a quest to detoxify home and body, I discovered a remedy for fleas and ticks for animals that was non-toxic, and, it turns out, even beneficial for humans: diatomaceous earth (DE); it is basically fossilized aquatic algae that has been compressed over millions of years and now can be found at various mines around the world and in fresh and salt-water. Food-grade DE comes from freshwater deposits. It is the purest kind and is safe for human consumption in small amounts. Like all good things, it must be taken with care and understanding.

Regeneration International Works with Belizeans
RI Works with Belizeans to Scale Up Regenerative Agriculture Early in June 2015, about 60 people-farmers, scientists, activists, media, business leaders-representing 21 countries convened in Costa Rica to launch Regeneration International (RI), a new nonprofit organization with a global mission: to promote and facilitate the global transition to regenerative agriculture and land-use practices and systems that provide abundant, nutritious food; revitalize local economies; regenerate soil fertility and water-retention capacity; nurture biodiversity; promote social justice and fair trade; and restore climate stability. In 2015 the word "regeneration," in the context of food and farming, was relatively new. So in the early days RI focused heavily on education and movement-building-but always with an eye toward igniting an on-the-ground regenerative agriculture revolution. What�

From Cane to Cattle Pastures�
Froghoppers Identify New Habitat by Beth Roberson. Sugar cane, Sacharum officinarum, is a member of the Poaceae or grass family; froghoppers, Aeneolamia varia and Aneolaomia albofaceata have been recognized as a notable pest for Belizean cane farmers since the first severe infestation in cane of 2007. Cattle ranchers were advised in the 90's to improve their pastures with monocultures of imported grass varieties which are known for their higher nutrition profile, drought resistance and other positive features. Froghoppers gradually recognized these improved pastures (fellow Poaceae) as very suitable habitat for themselves and expanded their turf. According to the report made at the March 2017 BLPA AGM, by meteorologist Fermin Blanco, froghoppers are spreading thru Central America; weather services hope to�

BLPA's 40th Annual AGM
On 24 March the BLPA held its 40th Annual General Meeting at their headquarters with members attending from all 6 districts. After welcoming protocol and remarks, several speakers updated members with exciting happenings within the industry.

The Other Cowfoot
by Deborah Harder. The "cowfoot soup", popular among Belizeans, is not made from this herb, but from the actual feet of cows. The herb is named for its resemblance to a cow's hoof print and is a useful native plant. It grows wild and is found all over Belize. Look around your land for a plant with large leaves (up to 16 inches by 12 inches or more) that smells like anise and has a white spike at the base of the leaf during its blossom time. All you have to do is let it stand. However, young plants can also be transplanted in desired locations. It is often very prolific. Tea made from the leaves is reminiscent of sassafras�

Turmeric / Yellow Ginger
A New Export Crop for Belize by Umeeda Swiltlo Turmeric (Curcuma longa), also known as yellow ginger or golden root, was brought to Belize by Indian indentured servants when they came to southern and northern Belize districts. It is an essential spice used in many Indian foods. The traditional way of using it in Belize was to grind it with a mortar and pestle, add salt, black pepper, garlic, ginger and culantro and make it into round balls. When cooking a curry, people fried onions, added tomatoes and some of the premade turmeric ball. People would also wash, then boil the freshly harvested turmeric root and dry it in the sun followed by the tedious process of mortaring to make�

Limes of Belize
by Mary Susan Loan Lime is citrus genus of the family Rutaceae. Common species growing in Belize include Tahitian or Persian (Citrus latifolia), key lime (Citrus aurantifolia) and Rangpur or Jamaica lime (Citrus limonata). Belizean open-air market places are the best places to find favorites: (1) classic Tahitian and Persian green limes with pale green interior and with few-to-no seeds which grow to be from about one and a half to two and a half inch ovoid fruits, (2) smaller paler key limes and (3) the variety known as Jamaican limes: juicy, seedy, and sour with orange skin and orange interior. Jamaicas can be used as a substitute when green limes are not available. All are tart, juicy and aromatic�

A Book Review: Tuning Into Nature
This book, subtitled, "Infrared Radiation and the Insect Communication System", might seem a bit of a handful at first glance. Full and complete understanding of its contents may come only with a degree in physics and perhaps degrees in electronics and biology thrown in. That said this is a very interesting read even for the lesser mortals amongst us, and even gives the reader a couple of surprises along the way. The latter, I would submit, is a sign of a useful and important book.

Ag Briefs
UBCF - The University of Belize College of Agriculture will host a 4-day Soil Fertility Course� Caribbean Food Crops SocietyThe Caribbean Food Crop Society (CFCS) will hold its 54th Annual Meeting� Regeneration International and Regeneration Belize present Transforming Tropical Agriculture: Conference for All Belizean Farmers� The 2018 ACRES USA Eco-Ag Conference & Trade Show is scheduled for December 4th -7th, in Louisville, Kentucky. Richard and Sandra McLeish recognized opportunity when they realized Jamaica's 5th most produced crop, pumpkins, were also very much under-utilized. The General Court of the European Union upheld "restrictions introduced at the EU level in 2013 against the insecticides�" Vanilla prices: Madagascar provides 79% of the world's vanilla. Shortages there have a wide ripple� The Ministry of National Development's Rural Water Supply Unit hosted a Well Drillers' Workshop� BIOCHAR: Commercial chicken farms produce an impressive amount of poultry litter� Substitutables: The Directorate General for Foreign Trade reports that the seasonality of locally produced fruits and vegetables is reflected in the import data of agricultural products. And much more�

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Ag Calendar

Issue #41 - October 2018 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!
Click HERE to download the PDF

Quality Feed Mill: Expands Soy Processing as Local Soy Production Replaces Imported
After becoming convinced that Spanish Lookout farmers could grow soybeans well and that their community would benefit from a soy processing facility, Quality Feed Mill (QFM) cautiously worked to accomplish that goal, purchasing their first soybeans in 2013�

DGFT Trade Intelligence: 2017 Foreign Trade Data Disaggregation
Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce - DGFT Trade Intelligence Report: 2017 Foreign Trade Data Disaggregation. Export and Import Partner Countries; Export Trade Partners per Commodities; Import Commodities and Trade Partners; Monthly Imports of Vegetables.

Travel Global, Eat Local
The Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (MTCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture launched the Tourism Consumption Study at the 54th Annual Caribbean Food Crop Society (CFCS) Meeting held in Belize City in July 2018. The aims of the study are to quantify the existing and potential demand of agricultural products by the tourism industry as well as to assess barriers that inhibit the linkage between agricultural supply and tourism demand and ultimately determine possible interventions to improve the supply of local agricultural products to the tourism industry.

Agriculture Prices at a Glance - Oct. 2018

Belize National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) Launch
The launch of the NBSAP on May 31, 2018 coincided closely with the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). As one of the signatories numbering 195 countries plus the EU, Belize implemented its pledge to conserve biological components in several phases including the development of the NBSAP, a five year action plan of the national biodiversity goals.

Beyond the Backyard - Arrowroot, the Obedience Plant
My criteria for choosing plants for my garden are usually 1. Can you eat it? 2. Is it attractive or showy? No doubt this is why the arrowroot plant did not cross my gate until now. I was well acquainted with British biscuits and infant teething rusks and have long used the white powder as a thickening agent as opposed to corn flour. Yet I had never seen a plant or had any idea of its uses and its impressive history.

Management of Internal Parasites of Sheep and Goats
Belize is in the process of building a sheep meat industry and is also experiencing a relatively new expansion in goat production, particularly focused on dairy. With this new direction it is important to improve various aspects of their production. These include genetics, nutrition, reproduction, husbandry, health and marketing. A number of these are being addressed by various entities.

Passionfruit
Passionfruit is one of the fastest growing and most worthwhile fruit for Belize. Passionfruit belongs to the diverse Passifloracea or Passion Flower Family, which contains around 600 species of flowering herbaceous vines. Of these 600 known species of Passiflora, many are grown worldwide in tropical and subtropical gardens for their extremely unique and beautiful flowers.

Spanish Lookout's Quality Feed Mill Expands Soy Processing as Local Soy Production Replaces Imported
After becoming convinced that Spanish Lookout farmers could grow soybeans well and that their community would benefit from a soy processing facility, Quality Feed Mill (QFM) cautiously worked to accomplish that goal, purchasing their first soybeans in 2013. At that time all their beans were processed at a facility in Blue Creek, Orange Walk District. In 2013 they purchased and moved various pieces of soybean processing equipment from Yo Creek, Orange Walk, where a soybean processing facility had been built but was never fully operational. In 2016 the first soybeans were processed at their Spanish Lookout facility. Also in 2016, a visit to QFM by tourist Joel Yorgey of Iowa lead to interactions positive to both.

Key Stages of Resilience for Plant Health By John Kempf
Our vision and our mission is to help farmers produce healthy crops which are insect and disease resistant and have no need for toxic insecticides and fungicides. We can accomplish this goal by providing farmers with knowledge of how diseases and insect pests interact with growing plants, tools to monitor crop health in the field, and information and materials which can be used to increase and enhance plant health.

The Belize Agriculture Information Management System (BAIMS) and the 2018 Belize National Agriculture Census By Milagro Matus
The agriculture and food sector is one of the main pillars of the Belizean economy, contributing approximately $590 million annually to economic output, representing 80% of domestic exports, and directly employing 17.9% of the Belizean population. Moreover, it is a major foreign exchange earner, maintains a vibrant rural population and ensures food and nutrition security for the country. The Ministry of Agriculture is implementing initiatives to reform the enabling environment for agriculture and food production including the regulatory framework, market reform, and adoption of advanced technologies to counter the significant challenges posed by climate change.

Management of Internal Parasites of Sheep and Goats By Daniel Juan
Belize is in the process of building a sheep meat industry and is also experiencing a relatively new expansion in goat production, particularly focused on dairy. With this new direction it is important to improve various aspects of their production. These include genetics, nutrition, reproduction, husbandry, health and marketing. A number of these are being addressed by various entities. This article hopes to shed some light on one aspect of health - internal parasite management. Internal parasites of these livestock are generally pulmonary or gastrointestinal.

BLPA and CATIE Sign Agreement for Technical Assistance
On Wednesday 15th August 2018, Ms. Elba Cruz, Manager of the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA) and Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim, Director of The Agronomic Centre for Tropical Research and Education (CATIE) signed an agreement for the provision of technical cooperation services to strengthen the livestock industry.

Andre Leu: Building Topsoil with Regenerative Practices
Topsoil is where the majority of the plant available nutrients, beneficial microorganisms and crop available water are found. The most important component of topsoil is organic matter composed mostly of soil organic carbon (SOC). It is estimated that agricultural soils have lost 50% to 70% of their original soil organic carbon pool and the depletion is exacerbated by further soil degradation. Longer rotations, cover crops, green manures...

Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin: Regenerative Poultry Management
Reginaldo will present on a revolutionary Poultry Centered Regenerative Farm model that is a success in Guatemala, Mexico and the US. The model is built not on a nearsighted drive toward maximum profit, but on a triple bottom-line being ecological, economical and socially viable. At the system's center are free-range meat/egg poultry, raised in a well-managed paddock planted with a combination of perennials, cover crops, and small grains that provide additional cash value to the farmers and nutrition and shelter for the chicken.

VACA AT A TURNING POINT
The Vaca Forest Reserve (VFR) is the closest forest reserve to the communities of Arenal, Benque Viejo del Carmen and San Jose Succotz. For the young boys of the Youth Environmental Action Group (YEAG) based in Succotz, this reserve was the closest, too, for outdoor camping and nature studies in the late 1980's. At that time Don Antonio Morales used to describe the richness of the forest bustling with wildlife, intact caves and fresh water. But he had concerns since there was much talk about the construction of the dam on the Macal River and road access to the core of the Vaca Plateau. His late night anecdotes would end up with hopes that the forested area would remain just as how he found it in the late 1970's when he arrived in the Vaca Plateau. The VFR covers an area of 40,303 acres (16,317 ha), and forms part of the Greater Maya Mountains Massif (a key biodiversity conservation area). It is bordered on the east by the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and Nojkaaxmeen Elijio Panti National Park and to the south by the Chiquibul National Park.

Carambola, the Star By Deborah Harder
Carambola, Averrhoa carambola, is also called starfruit because the cross-section of its fruit is shaped like a 5 pointed star (although in rare instances it may have 6 - 8 points); it is a delightful tree with beautiful foliage and sprays of delicate purple blossoms. It grows well in a variety of soils and bears twice a year - November through January and May through August. The fruit, with its rather firm, translucent flesh, seems to appeal especially to Northerners due to its light, juicy quality, as opposed to other tropical fruits, some of which can seem rather heavy and overly rich to northern tastes.

The Economics of Industrial Hemp By Karin Westdyk
The U.S. currently imports an estimated $2 billion worth of industrial hemp each year. Though it is the world's largest consumer of hemp and hemp products, US farmers have not enjoyed "harvesting" the benefits of growing hemp for the better part of a century. Based on disinformation, created and fueled by those who benefitted from its prohibition, a war was waged against a plant with the potential to provide quality food and shelter, a carbonnegative fuel, strong fiber and paper, and an effective medicine where pharmaceuticals have failed. Using racism and "fake news" hemp was vilified and since 1937, banished from the landscape, allowing fossil fuels to dominate agriculture, energy, and products that have caused great havoc, leaving a trail of pollution, illness, and war. But this is changing�

Protein Bank Update By Chris Harris, White Rock Farm
Quite a lot has happened since the first article about our protein bank. (See Belize Ag Report, issue 39.) In truth we have learned quite a lot. It's a good news/ bad news story really. First the good news: we have been able to save quite a bit of money in proprietary feed costs. To be honest however, that was the easy part. Just don't buy�!! The bad news is that our broiler growth rate dropped significantly when we substituted natural grass/leaf feed for part of the broiler grower we had been using.

THE BIOCHAR SOLUTION - Carbon Farming and Climate Change By Albert Bates, Reviewed by Chris Harris
The first thing to say about this book is that it is not for the deniers of climate change-or perhaps it is� By tracing the origins and history of agriculture around the world, from the very beginning of man's involvement in life on "the third rock from the sun" the author presents a plausible account of the highs and lows of our struggle with nature and the impact on our future. Around 400,000 years of history from cave paintings through to modern day scientific research has given us a fascinating story of success and failure, of the rise and fall of civilizations and the impact on food production over the years.

Ag Briefs

Management for Sustaining the Vaca Forest Reserve By Sarah Ottinger and Elizabeth Becker
This is the first in a series of articles to be written by college research students involved in projects to study human impacts on the Vaca Forest Reserve (VFR), a protected 15,314- hectare multi-use conserved area of land located in western Cayo. VFR provides renewable resources to the surrounding communities of Arenal, San Jose Succotz, and Benque. The students come from multiple US universities. They are focusing on agricultural plant and soil science, forestry, wildlife, and human/social dimensions of the VFR.

Ag Calendar

Issue #42 - July 2019 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!
Click HERE to download the PDF

The Belize Ag Report Celebrates 10th Anniversary
The Belize Ag Report is an independent semi-annual agriculture newsletter. Our purpose is to collect, edit and disseminate information useful to the Belizean producer, large or small. We invite opinions on issues, which are not necessarily our own. Belize Ag neither solicits nor accepts political ads.

Reducing Reliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides in Belize
Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs)1 have been recognized as an issue of concern, along with the need for concerted action in addressing them, through the promotion of agro-ecologically based alternatives and strengthening of national regulatory capacity to conduct risk assessment and risk management.

Belizean Lauded in London
Maya Mountain Research Farm (MMRF) is a Belizean NGO, situate in the Toledo District agroforestry farm of Christopher Nesbitt and his wife Celini Logan Nesbitt. Christopher applied for the newly created Commonwealth Innovation Award, highlighting his work of the last 30 years in agroforestry, food security, land repair, and the last 15 years' intensive work on carbon sequestration through agroforestry and biochar.

Rainfall Reports And Charts From 2018
Although the trend of lower rainfall in northern Belize, and higher rainfall in the south still remains generally true, much variation can be seen within each area. All of the rainfall charts and graphs for this article were created by Dottie Feucht.

Managing our Streams and Rivers is Everyone's Responsibility
Having studied streams and rivers of Belize for the past 30 years, I have witnessed a trend that has greatly accelerated during the past few years�and the news is not good. Our riparian (riverside) forests, filter systems of the landscape, are being stripped out. Wetlands are disappearing.

Regeneration Belize & Regeneration International to Host 2nd Annual Tropical Agriculture Conference
When you think of the 2nd week of November in Belize, think of the Regeneration International and Regeneration Belize's Tropical Agriculture Conference. This year will be the 2nd annual event. The 2018 conference, (held the 2nd week of November also) was a rousing success, with over 1,100 Belizean farmers flocking to Belmopan's NATS grounds, to listen and learn regenerative farming methods from 6 international experts, all hailing from the tropics and 11 local experts.

Beyond the Backyard: Ay Caramba!
Just when the avocado, Persea americana, season is coming to a close, I read a very disturbing article that suggests that some of our favorite indulgences could be annihilated by the effects of climate change. I am sure the same holds true for most of the basics produce but the thought of losing avocados, coffee, chocolate, lobsters, oysters and beer is far more devastating.

The History of Central Farm 1948 - 1966
The Central Farm Agricultural Station was started on the 20th October, 1948. It started as an Ex-servicemen Rehabilitation Scheme and was later changed to an experimental station. At its inception the area was completely in high bush; the first work gang consisted of twelve men under a farm manager who cleared it with machetes and axes.

Spanish Lookout Community Crop Statistics for the year 2018
Crop Statistics Table by Crop Type, Acres farmed and Bags produced in 2018.

Silvopastoral Systems: A Summary of Dr. Alvaro Cadavid's presentation at the Tropical Agriculture Conference
A silvopastoral system (SPS) is a type of agroforestry that allows the intensification of cattle production based on natural processes that integrate trees and shrubs in pastures with animals. SPSs are recognized as an integrated approach to sustainable land use. A silvopastoral system (SPS) is a type of agroforestry that allows the intensification of cattle production based on natural processes that integrate trees and shrubs in pastures with animals. SPSs are recognized as an integrated approach to sustainable land use. A well-managed SPS has been shown to improve overall productivity and provide additional economic, environmental, and social benefits for livestock farmers and cattle compared with grass monocultures.

Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic 2018 Highlight: Poached Macaw Chicks
As with stories of illegal wildlife poaching and trade, this story starts sadly. Two Scarlet Macaw chicks were poached in the Chiquibul by a group of illegal trespassers. Thanks to the amazing Friends for Conservation & Development (FCD) Chiquibul rangers, the poachers were intercepted shortly before the Guatemalan border.

Sorosi: Bitter Melon
Sorosi, often spelled cerasee, is commonly known as bitter melon for good reason. Along with aloe vera and neem it is one of the bitterest herbs in the pharmacopeia of plant medicines in Belize. In some places it is called balsam pear and goes by a number of other names�

Black Sapote
Though originating in Central America, black sapote is still quite unknown in Belize. Usually called "chocolate pudding fruit", the power of suggestion is necessary to extract any true chocolate flavour from it. But it has its own pleasant flavour. The tree is attractive and a good shade tree, with dense, shiny, dark green foliage. The fruits resemble large green persimmons, with black flesh that is soft when ripe.

Eggplant, 'The King of Vegetables'
Eggplant (Solanum melongena), also known as aubergine in the UK, berenjena in Spanishspeaking countries and brinjal in India, or garden egg, is one of over onehundred plant species of the Solanaceae nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes and peppers. Botanically, eggplant is actually a fruit, which is considered to be a vegetable.

Yalbac Ranch and Laguna Seca Timber Nursery
Nurseries are not required of sawmills, by the Forest Department nor the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); nevertheless, owners of Yalbac Ranch and Laguna Seca, private working forest lands located in the south west corner of the Orange Walk District, set a good example.

University of Belize Central Farm: Vegetable Grafting
The University of Belize Central Farm hosted the first of a series of workshops intended to increase the knowledge of students and industry professionals. On March 1st and 2nd the university hosted its first workshop on vegetable grafting.

A Note from Neal Kinsey
So sorry I could not be a part of the upcoming meeting in November, Transforming Tropical Agriculture. I appreciate your choice of one big word in that title, as when you look at the various meanings of a transformation, there is one that certainly applies to agriculture. Transformation - a marked change for the better.

Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown
So where to start? A much-loved British TV gardener called Percy Thrower became famous for his catchphrase on his weekly programme back in the sixties. He used to say in his west country accent, " Oi think the answer lies in the soil". What Gabe Brown has done in this highly readable book is to show that some sixty years later, long gone Percy Thrower was right.

IUCN/SSC Crocodile Specialist Group Regional Meeting, Placencia
During the week of June 25-29, 80 participants representing 19 countries participated in the IUCN/SSC-Crocodile Specialist Group (CSG) Regional Meeting to discuss country status updates of conservation, management and research issues in the Central America and Caribbean region. The organization of this meeting was by Dr. Marisa Tellez, Sub-regional Chair of the CSG, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Crocodile Research Coalition�

Become a Verified Ministry of Agriculture Farmer!
On June 2018, the Ministry of Agriculture began the National Agriculture Census 2018 to register all farmers who produce half an acre or more and/or generate 30% or more of their household income from an agricultural activity. To date a total of 6,973 farmers and 8,092 farms have been registered to the Belize Agriculture Information Management System (BAIMS).

Ag Briefs
The Mayan Alliance for the Bees of Yucatan, has asked their Agrarian Prosecutor's Office to declare a state of emergency. Regeneration Belize to host the 2nd Annual Tropical Agriculture Conference, Nov 12-13 at the NATS grounds in Belmopan. Persons from various Ag sectors such as Ministry of Ag, CARDI, SIRDI, and other interested folks gathered to learn about biochar. And more�

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Click here for issue #43, the August 2020 Belize Ag Report!

Hemp in Belize Update...
Industrial Hemp: A Product With Many Applications
Beyond the Backyard: Bounty of the Beach - Purslane
Coconut (Cocus nucifera L.) By Lester Muralles
Westrac Ltd. 50 years of Business: A Look Back at Its Formation
Key Techniques of Carbon Farming
Regeneration Belize Hosts Farmers Meeting
"Grassroots Rising" By Ronnie Cummins, A Review by Dottie Feucht
Building Healthy Soils with Cover Crops & No-till Farming
Question: Is it possible to increase drought resistance for crops grown on my land by increasing soil fertility?
BLPA's Successful AGM
Fusarium Wilt of Bananas: A Threat to Banana and Plantain Production in Belize
Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers, Grasshoppers
A CALL TO PHASE OUT CHLORPYRIFOS AND ADAPT AGROECOLOGY
Calling St. Michael, The Dragon Slayer
GMO, Failed Promises; Flawed Science: A Serious Health and Safety Issue
"Poisoning Our Children: The Parent's Guide to the Myths of Safe Pesticides" By Andr� Leu, A Review by Mary Loan
Rainfall 2019
Soap Nuts - Laundry Soap of the Mayas
Fruits, Roots and Shoots: Using Tropical Plants for Self Sufficiency
Ag Briefs
Agriculture Prices At A Glance

... and more!

Click here for issue #44, the Spring 2021 Belize Ag Report!

- Reforming Our Business Environment, By Jose Alpuche
- From the Editor
- Pilot Project: Voluntary Third-Party Assurance Programme
- Big Falls Ranch, British Honduras' 1st Agricultural Giant, Part 1: Transitioning and the Early Years, By Roberson/Feucht
- Beyond the Backyard: The Oil of Tranquility, the Scent of Success - Vetiver, By Jenny Wildman
- A Proven System To Restore Health-Giving Energy In Your Water, By Jerry Carlson
- Quest for the Right Hemp Cultivars, By Karin Westdyk
- Belize Raptor Center Helps Farmers, By Valerie Motyka and Sarah Mann
- Pyroligneous Acid (Wood Vinegar) Use for Agricultural Production, By Gerardo Aldana, PhD
- Wood Vinegar for Agriculture, Compiled by Dottie Feucht
- Sorrel Part 1: History and Introduction, By Justin B. Reynolds
- Belize's Dairy Industry: Recent Challenges and Looking Forward, By Beth Roberson
- Book Review: "Cows Save The Planet And Other Improbable Ways of Restoring Soil to Heal the Earth," By Judith D. Schwartz, A Review by Michael Richardson
- Pesticides Review: Belize and Beyond, By B. Roberson
- PICKY-EATER INSECTS PASS ON HIGH BRIX PLANTS: Healthy Plants Are the Best Pesticide, By Thomas M. Dykstra
- Technological Solutionism Will Not Save our Food Systems, By Navdanya International
- Overview of Long-Term, Jaguar Camera-Trapping Project In Belize, By Dr. Marcella Je. Kelly, Darby McPhail and David Lugo
- Rare Hummingbird Spotted Recently near the Belize Botanic Gardens at a Private Residence, By Gayle Zentz
- Book Review: "Cindy and Erica's Obsession To Solve Today's Health Care Crisis: Autism, Alzheimer's, Cardiovascular Disease, ALS and More," By Stephanie Seneff, Ph.D., A Review by Dottie Feucht
- The Many Faces of Flour Part 1: Traditional Wheat Flour And its Ancient Relative, Spelt, By Beth Roberson
- Global Seed Summit Report, By Mary Susan Loan
- Rene Tzib Certified Pesticide-Free Farmer, By Dr. Sophia Clarke
- Breadnut - A Tool For Carbon Drawdown, Food Security And Land Degradation Neutrality, By Christopher Nesbitt
- ASK RUBBER BOOTS
- Belize Ram�n Ox Group: GROWING AGROFORESTRY AND FOOD PROCESSING
- Ag Briefs
- Agriculture Prices At A Glance

... and more!

Issue #45 - Spring 2022 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here

Big Falls Ranch: Rice Production (Part 2), By Feucht/Roberson
As described in part 1 of this article The Bevis family, who leased 11,000 acres of land along the Belize River in 1964, chose rice as the most viable commercial cash crop to grow while developing a cattle ranching operation. The two main crops at that time in Belize (British Honduras) were citrus in the south and sugar cane in the north. The rest of the country, including Big Falls, was relatively undeveloped with no infrastructure.

Field Survey: Collection and Analysis of Data on Pesticide Poisoning Incidents among Farmers in Belize 2021, By Dr. Sherlene Enriquez-Savery & Mr. Sean Sebastian
In June 2020, the University of Belize (UB) administered a field survey, Collection and Analysis of Data on Pesticide Poisoning Incidents among Farmers in Belize. The field survey was a partnership between UB and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The Rotterdam Convention of the United Nations, to which Belize is a Party, has a core objective of mitigating the adverse effects of pesticides on human health.

Guest Editorial By Ed Boles, PhD Aquatic Ecologist
Representatives of Vulcan Materials Company (VMC), headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, visited Belize on a fact- finding mission in December, 2019, and alerted many people of the Stann Creek District coastal area that the company intended to purchase the 6,000 hectare (15,000 acre) White Ridge Farm. They sent down a company team to conduct test borings of the karst and granite rock in early 2020.

Review of 2020 & 2021 Pesticides Imports Data
Records of imports data for this period indicate that there was an increase in importations of pesticides and its related substances compared to previous years. Even though the pandemic was hitting Belize, the agriculture sector did not collapse. The reasons for an increase in importation can be attributed to the following:

Lemongrass Oil Made in Belize By Dr. Thomas Mathew
Our experimentation to make lemongrass oil at the Belize Spice Farm was a success. We found out that it takes 450 lbs. of lemon grass cuttings to produce about 10 oz. of oil. Many distilleries produce almost double the amount; as we gain more experience with harvesting and distillation, we hope to match the yield of big time growers.

Sorrel (Roselle): Part 2 By Deborah Harder and Dottie Feucht
Issue 44 of the Belize Ag Report covered the introduction and history of sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa). Being popular in subtropical regions all over the world, it has many local names and uses. Although countries in Africa and Southeast Asia are the major suppliers on the global market, Mexico and Jamaica are important suppliers in our region. Dried sorrel is sold in the local produce markets.

Rainfall 2020 & 2021
Although the trend of lower rainfall in northern Belize, and higher rainfall in the south still remains generally true, much variation can be seen within each area.

Hemp as Food By William Grimshaw
For many years it was believed that hemp was destined only for developed nations; they make the rules and they have the resources; Belize is too small and we don't have enough farmers. Sure, some of those things may be true, but not entirely. Delving deep into what hemp is, we come across its roots, spread far and wide, branching into hundreds if not thousands of extensions of itself.

HLB - Citrus Greening: Performance Nutrition Leading the Way By John Flynn
Comments like "I have tried everything under the sun" by frustrated citrus growers trying to solve the greening disease were widely heard over the past several years. However, those who have stopped what they have been doing, including applying pesticides, and begun the Performance Nutrition program, adding organic matter and microbials to the soil and allowing the trees time to heal are saying "I doubted that merely changing agronomic practices I could produce citrus again.

Belize Coconut National Stakeholder Platform and the Lead Farm Approach By Omaira Avila Rostant
The 2nd phase of the Coconut Development project funded by the European Union (EU) and CARIFORUM through the Alliences for Coconut Industry Development Expansion and Enhanced Support for the Caribbean is being implemented in the Caribbean since 2019 by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Caribbean.

A Carbon Friendly Beef Enterprise - Is It Possible? By Christine Jones, PhD
There are many misconceptions surrounding the contribution of livestock to climate change. The United Nations publication, 'Livestock's Long Shadow' (1), resulted in calls from around the world for reduced meat consumption on the basis that livestock were a major contributor to greenhouse gases. Concerns have also been expressed that meat consumption has a detrimental effect on human health.

Homemade Health: Immune System Reboot By Marguerite Fly Bevis, RN, BSN
The old Creole saying, "prevention betta dan cure", is the answer to the question: how can we boost immunity? Our first thought is take vitamins and supplements and to figure out which ones are essential and why. Research reveals there are also other things we can do and ways we adapt our lifestyle to improve our chances of resisting illness.

Successful Papaya Growing By Dr. Sophia Clarke
As we all know papaya is delicious, commands a good sale price, and has many excellent nutritional and medicinal properties. Growing organically is much the better for health, but as I was warned by Cergio Mai of BAHA Plant Health, "this will be a challenge!" due to the fact that papaya is susceptible to many diseases and pests. I can testify to that as we have found on our farm in Cayo. So I wanted to find out how we could be more successful growers of papaya.

Agave: The Century Plant of Belize By Michael Richardson
The landmark ornamental Agave americana, commonly known as the "century plant" has been in Belize for centuries. Known as maguey in Mexico, the hardy succulent is native to hot, arid regions of the Americas. Agave is a genus of monocots with dozens of species. Although often misidentified as a perennial, the century plant is actually a monocarpic (meaning that each rosette dies after flowering and fruiting) multiannual since each spined rosette flowers only once with a thirty-foot bloom mast or quiote and then dies.

Easy Greens to Grow in Belize By Dr. Mandy Tsang
It has been about 10 years since I last wrote an article for the Belize Ag Report. Just to fill you in on my background: my husband and I are both medical doctors who came to Belize 18 years ago. We wanted to grow our own food with our own hands and dig in the dirt. In short, we have become sustenance farmers. I understand that many people would not put themselves into a position of trying to survive solely on what they grow.

Ta'nah Farmers Group By Beth Roberson
In March 0f 2021, a group of experienced and determined farmers of San Antonio, Cayo District*, began meeting together every 2 weeks, with the aim of working in coordination with each other to increase productivity and profitability for their individual farms. Their efforts were rewarded when on 8 September 2021, the Ta'nah Farmers Group, comprised of 25 men and women farmers, was officially registered and recognized as an association.

New Opportunity for an Alternative to Wheat: Sorghum, aka Milo and Maecillo By Maruja Vargas
Sorghum, (Sorghum bicolor) is an ancient grain better known as milo in Belize and maecillo in Latin America. It has been cultivated for 5,000 years and is one of the five principal grain staples of the world. Over 500 million people in 30 countries rely on sorghum as their main grain staple. Sorghum is among the most efficient crops in the conversion of solar energy and is very drought tolerant, requiring only 6 inches of annual rainfall which is 30% less water than other grains.

SPANISH LOOKOUT COMMUNITY CROP STATISTICS for the year 2020 - 2021

The 7th Spanish Lookout Industrial / Commercial Expo
Was held on 26th and 27th March 2022. There were 180 booths from all over Belize. Next Expo: 2024

Pesticide poisoning in Belize: Addressing the upward trend
The issue of pesticide poisoning among farmers and farm workers appears to be a growing area of concern in Belize that authorities are now seeking to address. A recent study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the University of Belize, revealed that there seemed to be a substantial increase in the cases of accidental pesticide poisoning in the year 2021, compared to the previous two years. These findings were presented during a workshop on Pesticide Poisoning among Farmers and Farm Workers in Belize held virtually on February 24, 2022.

Field Survey: Collection and Analysis of Data on Pesticide Poisoning Incidents among Farmers in Belize 2021
In June 2020, the University of Belize (UB) administered a field survey titled; Collection and Analysis of Data on Pesticide Poisoning Incidents among Farmers in Belize. The field Survey was a partnership between UB and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Letters to the Editor

Ag Briefs

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

and more!...