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The August 2014 - October 2014 issue of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online.
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This Issue's Stories:

• Chia: The New Old Super Food of Belize: Chia seeds, or Salvia hispancia, may be new to the ever growing list of marketable foods grown in Belize, but this super food has been around this region since the ancient Maya. Its common name "chia" is an ancient Nahuatl word for "oily". The southern Mexican state of Chiapas is said to be a combination of the word "chia" and "water " making an interesting combination considering that chia seeds soaked in water make a vital rehydrating drink that is often served a variety of ways in the Mundo-Maya and now the rest of the world. Legend even has it that chia soaked in water was the only food that ceremonialpurified royal messengers were allowed to consume during their long treks between Mayan city-states. When I asked Ronald Reimer, a chia farmer in Spanish Lookout, about this legend, he thinks it could be quite true. While he has never personally been on a complete chia and water fast, he makes a traditional drink by soaking chia in water between meals and he notices all cravings in between meals and stomach pains that he used to associate with gastritis are gone. Now he enjoys this super food over salads, in smoothies, over or in breads, and adds a handful to cereals and baked goods; they turn "normal" food into an energy-packed health food. Ronald also suspects that because of its gelatinous quality when it is wet, it could also be made into puddings as a safe replacement for tapioca and dairy desserts.
• The National Agriculture and Food Production Policy: The Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA) with the collaboration of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Institute of the Cooperation for Agriculture (IICA) is revising and updating the National Agriculture and Food Production Policy that was produced in 2000. No Farmer = No Food. Although this policy is still relevant today, there are a number of issues such as climate change, risk management in agriculture, greater emphasis in value addition and agro-processing that need further strengthening. A series of consultations with various interest groups of public and private sectors including NGOs, and civil societies were carried out throughout the country, starting in April 2014. The aim was to engage key stakeholders in this process, develop and strengthen a dialogue platform for agricultural issues and ensure ownership of the final policy. Participation was extremely encouraging and agriculture issues discussed were diverse. Some of these burning issues raised were: the need for a comprehensive taxation review that facilitates competitiveness for the productive sector; need for affordable credit; need to strengthen collaboration and coordination among public and private sector; revision of fiscal incentives regimes; strengthening of agencies responsible for standards, sanitary and phytosanitary and other protocols needed for exports; markets and marketing linkages; ease of doing business, and responsible governance at all levels among others
• Citrus Greening Affects Roots Before Leaves: Although citrus greening enters the tree through the leaves indirectly through the Asian Citrus Psyllid, University of Florida researchers have discovered that the disease attacks the roots long before the leaves show signs of the damage. The Asian Citrus Psyllid feeds on the leaf sap and passes on the bacteria that causes citrus greening into the tree and the bacteria travels quickly to the roots according to Researcher Evan Johnson. In the roots the bacteria replicate, damage the root system and spread to the rest of the canopy. The disease starves the tree of nutrients, leaving fruits that are green and misshapen, unsuitable for fresh fruit or juice. Most infected trees die within a few years. The University of Florida researchers found that citrus greening causes a loss of 30 to 50 percent of trees fibrous roots before symptoms are visible above ground. The early root loss means that the health of the citrus trees is severely compromised before the grower even knows it is infected.
• Integrated Pest Management And Control Guide: of pests and diseases that can damage crops of major and minor economical importance exceeds 3000 with an increase of approximately 10 new pests reported every year. But the good news is that specific ones that have a major influence on productivity in any particular region are usually limited. Pests can be of different natures and can be crop specific or generic, so the range of potential control measures is huge. Nevertheless there are a number of basic principles which can be applied to reduce their impact on yield and quality. Dr. Carlos Itza compiled a list of pests for common vegetable crops, surveillance procedures and details in the nonchemical eradication of pests in a publication called Guide to Organic Pest Management for Vegetable and Other Crops in Belize. The guide is available to farmers and gardeners. Studies conducted in Belize reveal that there are 3 major areas of concern for small farmers: marketing, post harvest and alternative pest control methods. Farmers report that pest damages can range from 40 - 99% in crop loss. The most common method currently used to control both pests and diseases in vegetable crops is pesticide spray. The adverse health effects from pesticide use is aggravated by several challenges, in terms of safe storage of the pesticide, safe application of the pesticide by the laborer, appropriate frequency of application for optimum benefit, and the necessity to ensure no chemical residue at harvest and market delivery. There is also the danger of resistance development to the pesticide by the target pest or pathogen.
• Energetic Agriculture: The Gene & the Minerals: In the year 1974 Dr. Henry Schroeder in his book Trace Minerals and Man said that unless the current pace of discovery is increased, it would take another 400 years before we understand the role of the various trace nutrients (minerals/elements) on Mendeleyev's Periodic Table. But in the year 2003, after some twenty-plus years studying genetics, Dr. Richard Olree, a practicing chiropractic physician, shattered the prediction of Dr. Schroeder. By sequencing the amino acids in the process of constructing proteins, Dr. Olree traced all the elements, including the 22 sub-atomic particles to their participatory function in the life process of man, animal and plant. A few years later in 2006, a full length book, Minerals for the Genetic Code was written by Charles Walters to popularize Dr. Richard Orlee's Standard Genetic Periodic Chart and the physical, chemical and biological connections. Every serious student of minerals, genes, and m-state elements should keep a copy.
• Switchels, Oxymels and Shrubs Regaining Popularity: Switchels, oxymels and shrubs have one thing in common and what I am about to say may leave the soft drink companies groaning. I walk the beach most mornings and every few feet encounter plastic drink bottles galore. I wondered what people used to drink. The switchel, oxytel and shrub were the forerunners to today's energy drinks, rehydration fluid, soft drinks and concentrates. The switchel, a splendid word that rolls off the tongue and describes an equally refreshing beverage, is made from water, vinegar, sugar and ginger with other ingredients such as oatmeal, lemon, and lime. It is similar to ginger beer in taste and originated in the Caribbean. As early as the 17th century it migrated to the USA and quenched the thirst of southern farmers who christened it haymaker's punch. The oxymel is a medicinal drink courtesy of the ancient Greeks made from four parts honey with one part vinegar simmered to reduce the volume, then diluted with water. It was used to fight bacteria, break congestion and coughs, soothe a sore throat, restore energy and cure a host of other maladies. Different herbs can be added for various conditions and personal taste. The herbs are infused for weeks, and the jar shaken regularly to impart the flavours of the healthy ingredients. This makes a refreshing drink or perky addition to salad dressings and sauces. Try making small batches and experiment with ratios.
• Exotic Birds in Belize, Not Wild Avians��We're Talking Chickens: A visit to the Chrissie Tupper's farm near Cheer's Restaurant, reveals that the poultry of Belize are at least as diverse as the people. Our expectations were to see her Guinea hens, whom she affectionately calls 'the polka dot mafia', but we were treated to a wide collection of exotics including Guineas, Silkies, Polish, Frizzles, local turkeys and assorted ducks. Chrissie maintains over 200 head, and year-in and -out, her farm provides all the eggs for their Cheer's restaurant (between 300 to 600 eggs /wk., depending on the season). The approximately 80' x80' chicken yard has a well-drained foundation; used rice hull stable bedding from her horses provides a nice dry footing, and the decomposing manure provides some delectable insect treats to supplement the poultry's diet. Next year Chrissie will move the fowl yard and use this very fertile area for a garden. A raised and gutted school bus, (see photo) offers shade and protection under the bus while the inside of the bus has partitions which can be closed to keep night predators out, creating a comfy giant chicken condo. Chrissie, an avid poultry aficionado, maintains her incubator upstairs; down stairs, a brooder with a heat lamp, and a converted horse stall accommodate interim juveniles until they are ready to face the main yard.
• Meet Valley of Peace Farms Ltd and Cayo Grain & Agro Supply Ltd: The agriculture community has been following with great interest, the frenzy of activity this year as an enormous dryer, huge storage silos and grain handling equipment rise on the south side of the George Price Hwy at Mile 54. Belize Ag visited with Douglas Johnson, general manager of both Valley of Peace Farms Ltd (VOPF) and Cayo Grain & Agro Supply Ltd (CG&AS) to discuss their project, plans and visions. Doug brings decades of experience and a world marketing view to their state-of-the-art operation there. Approximately 10 years ago, Doug and his wife Laurie heard about an opportunity in Belize to purchase farmland and after making several trips to the country and discussing it between themselves for some time they asked themselves the question�. "Are we up for this challenge?" The thought they had was "If we don't try it, we will never find out how good it might have been." So, the journey began�.. After 35 years of farming mainly yellow corn, soybeans and raising 16 million lbs of turkeys annually in Minnesota, Doug is turning his South Central Minnesota operation over to his son. In 2005, the Johnsons purchased the first lands for Valley of Peace Farms Ltd. His first row crop here was corn in the rainy season of 2007. Soon, his love for agriculture sparked an interest in a bigger goal: a commercial operation to address the CARICOM market, and that led to the formation of sister company, Cayo Grain and Agro Supply Ltd. (CG &AS) in 2013. Doug feels that Belize's greatest advantage in agriculture at this time is being part of CARICOM, and our central location regarding sales to Central, North and South America.
• Can your soil be harmed by effects from too much lime?: Finding the correct answer to that question can be quite confusing. The problem is complicated because some soils produce extremely well that have a high pH and very high calcium levels, and yet other soils, sometimes on the same farm, with the same pH and calcium levels are a big problem. We see this in soils from several parts of the U.S., France and Austria for example. Because some soils do so well with a high pH and high calcium, it can give the false impression that too much lime to supply more calcium would never be a problem. But it can be, and it is an expensive problem to fix once you have it. Many farmers have been told, "You can't use too much lime." That is not true! In our work with thousands and thousands of acres that have previously been over-limed, detailed soil testing continues to prove applying too much lime is a detriment to most soils. This holds true not only for grass and forage crops, but for whatever crop you are intending to grow. And once this happens, it can be far more expensive to correct than just the cost of spreading an excessive amount of limestone or other calcium containing material.
• BEL-CAR UPDATES: As corn prices have remained stable, there has been no significant increase in acreage planted in corn. The corn in the ground this rainy season is looking promising, as there appears to be less problems with the chronic earworms. This is thought to be because there was much rain soon after planting. The new lands, reddish-brown soil near Hillbank and Indian Creek (Yalbac purchase), was suffering due to the dry weather up to the last days of July. Spider mites are beginning to be pests, also surmised to be from the dry weather. Normally there is more rain in July, and then a mini-dry 'mauga' season in August. This year has shown us a dry July - until the last days of the month. A wet August is predicted by some. The corn inventory is fine, and supplies should last until the first harvests around September 1st. BEL-CAR has purchased four new silos from Sukup in the USA. Each has a capacity of 4,200 tons. Also, BEL-CAR added another new elevator.
• FAO 'Seed for Development' Project, A Bright Future for Open-Pollinated Corn: The experimental seed development project sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and carried out by Cayo farmers under the direction of Lead Extension Officer, William Can, of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA), is a resounding success! The project objective was to evaluate and multiply seeds of three improved corn varieties, two of which were white corn and one yellow, that adapted to weather and soil conditions of the Cayo District from the previous year's experiment. The slogan that evolved is Good seed = Good yield. The table below gives details of the demo plots that were established. The participating farmers painstakingly monitored the plants' growth and development as they adhered to the rigid procedures for producing high quality seeds in their one-acre plots. The charts and tables below compare the 2012 and 2013 trials. The table below shows the data that was collected in the trials of each corn variety in the 2012 corn cycle.
• CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY: A previous article in Belize Ag Report explained the chemistry of soil in terms of ionic composition. It is worth repeating here that the soil is a medium composed of minerals which yield/ retain ions and can exchange or retain ions of the soil solutions. Cations are the positively charged species: calcium (Ca++), magnesium (Mg ++), potassium (K+) , sodium (Na+). The proportion of the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) accounted for by those elements as exchangeable bases is frequently used as an indication of soil fertility. CEC is a concept that is arbitrarily defined and seeks to inform on the nutrient reserves held by the soil. The value is highly dependent on pH as the acidity/basicity of the soil determines the value of the exchange. As a practical matter, soil testing frequently reports not only the values of the indicator cations but also the CEC. The principal reason for this lies in the fact that in preparation of the soil sample an extraction is performed to determine the exchangeable nutrients. Different soils have different exchange capacities that are directly correlated to the types of clay minerals and organic matter. The type of sample preparation attempts to mimic the exchange of cations as occurs in the soil when water contacts the soil.
• Agricultural Trends in Spanish Lookout: A study of the trends in agriculture in Spanish Lookout is a study of expansion and growth in terms of cultivated acreage, types of crops, and number of farmers. These life-long farmers, who took their mechanized practices with them when they moved to Mexico from Canada and then in 1958 to Belize, have faced many challenges over the years. Belize is no exception to the risks related to weather and price fluctuations; farmers make their decisions on what to grow and when to plant to minimize their risks and maximize their gain. Unlike most farmers in the temperate zone, Belizean farmers can plant 2 crops per year. Corn, the major crop in Spanish Lookout, is known as a "summer" crop, as is rice; red kidney (RK) beans and black eyed peas (blackeyes) are the major "winter" crops along with relative newcomers, milo and soybeans. Records kept in the central office of Spanish Lookout start in 1990 but have gaps for some crops; so the charts show acreage, harvest (number of 100 lb. bags) and yield (pounds per acre) for the summer and winter crops for the years ending 2004 - 2013. Records for corn show an expansion from 4,477 in 1990 to over 23,000 in 2013, which includes rented land well beyond the borders of Spanish Lookout. Although the acreage was only a 5-fold increase, the harvest was a 10-fold increase during the same time period while the number of farmers increased from under 100 to 134. Yields have fluctuated due primarily to weather. The lowest yield, 1600 lbs. per acre, was in 1996; the highest, 46oo was in 2012. Although the other summer crop, rice, has been grown since 1993, gaps in the record preclude a complete picture; however there was a dramatic 620% increase in the number of acres between 1998 and 2014 and the number of farmers over the same time period increased from 2 to 29.
• The Chiquibul Forest Reserve - Ours to Lose: The Scarlet Macaw is an important indicator species for the health of the rainforest. The current population is estimated to be about 200 birds, which is not a good number. The macaws in our country are genetically distinct and geographically separated from other populations in South America. Despite the destruction of some of its habitat due to the hydroelectric dams that were built in their breeding grounds, they continue to exist. This is due in part to the efforts of Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) and Scarlet Six Biomonitoring Team (S6). Recently, the Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic (BWRC) also joined forces offering veterinary services in the field. Thanks to all this, along with countless volunteers, some new chicks are fledging safely. But, recently the monitoring team returned with sad news that two macaw nests had been poached due to their remote locations. The plight of the Scarlet Macaws should serve as a giant red flag to all Belizeans as it indicates that the future of our rainforest is in trouble. Indeed, the Chiquibul Forest is under siege by poachers taking hardwoods, Xate palms, Scarlet Macaws, wildlife, and anything else they can possibly take to sell. There are farmers planting milpas and people basically acting as if the forest belongs to them.
• Brand Registration and the Belize Livestock Registry: This month at Belize Livestock Producers Assoc. (BLPA), amongst other things, we are starting a drive to get all cattle owners to register, renew or get up to date with their brand registration. The Belize Livestock Registry (BLR), which is administered by the BLPA and based at their offices in Belmopan, was brought into being under the Cattle Branding Act, Number 207, and was revised in December 2000. It states that all cattle born should be branded before they reach 12 months of age or prior to sale. When you buy an animal you should brand it within 30 days of taking ownership with your own brand. This new brand should in no way alter, obscure, or come into contact with the original brand. The branding procedure is very important; if your animal is not branded it is almost impossible to prove ownership in the case of rustling, which we all know is reaching almost epidemic proportions in some areas of country, especially in Belize and Cayo Districts. As part of the National Cattle Sweep and the BLR traceability systems, each animal in your herd, whether you have only 5 animals or 500, is given two tags with a number unique to that animal. Correlating these tag numbers with your brand makes it much easier to identify the origin of an animal. When an animal is transported, movement permits must be filled in recording the origin and destination of the animal; so when an inspection at a police or BAHA checkpoint, or even in a slaughterhouse or butcher's shop is made, this animal can be traced back to the owner, thus ensuring that it actually belongs to the seller and has not been stolen or otherwise misappropriated.
• HOMEMADE HEALTH By MARGUERITE FLY BEVIS, RN, BSN: The purpose of this column is to share useful information about health that is relatively inexpensive and readily available for everyone. The information is not meant to be a substitute for health care, i.e., regular visits to a healthcare provider for check-ups and when you are ill. Instead, these are tips I have learned that help keep me and my family healthy, therefore requiring fewer visits to the doctor, saving time and money, not to mention enjoying the benefits of good health. A key area to consider is immune health. A healthy body is not as likely to be susceptible to daily threats, such as bacterial and viral invasions. The body is built to resist and to heal. When it is weak, defenses are down, and it becomes more likely to succumb to disease. An obvious way to stay healthy is to eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated, stay away from processed foods, eat lots of fresh vegetables, fruit, protein, fish, chicken, grass-fed beef, and use healthy oils and fats such as coconut oil, olive oil and avocado. Exercise is very important to maintain good health. The body was built to move. When it stops moving, it starts falling apart. Muscles deteriorate and the body ceases its ability to function properly. Exercise doesn't have to be an hour work out at a gym. It is as simple as moving about during the day, taking a walk, climbing stairs, playing games with children. People I know who lived into their late 90's were active until the end, mowing their own lawns, and chopping their own firewood. They ate and drank moderately, exercised, and they lived long lives.
• Salt and Minerals for Livestock: Animals, including humans, have been given a natural taste for salt, but not necessarily for trace minerals. That is probably why in natural states (solid and solution), salt is found with a wide variety of minerals, often balanced in the best proportions enabling their utilization by animals. In the wild, animals find their salt and minerals by selectively eating to their requirements. Domesticated stock need regular, if not constant, supplementation to optimize their growth, reproduction and immune systems. Sodium chloride, or salt, is vital for maintaining the osmotic pressure in the body's cells, enabling both nutrients and waste to move across cell membranes. Trace and other minerals are becoming more appreciated as their exact functions are defined by researchers such as Dr. Richard Olree. He states "Cells are all protein producers. Trace nutrients govern the kind of protein you will have." Charles Walters adds, "If deficiency labels a mineral or if there is a toxicity of a given mineral, then proper genetic expression becomes impossible." Balanced minerals are essential.
• National Agriculture and Trade Show 2014- A Growing Success: The 41st annual National Agriculture and Trade Show (NATS) 2014 welcomed approximately 36,000 visitors at the newly updated 60+ acre Belmopan Fairgrounds from May 3-5. Attendance has steadily increased since its inception in 1973. Despite the cloudy and rainy weather, the mood of the event was sunny. The fairgrounds have been restructured to separate agriculture, animal and entertainment exhibits. The theme of the NATS 2014 was "Stimulating Prosperity in Agriculture Through Renewed Public and Private Partnerships". The goal of this event was to educate the public about the importance of sustainable agriculture in Belize and to inspire the younger generation to consider farming as an occupation. Numerous vendors displayed their equipment and agriculture-related products. An exhibit of all the co-ops and their products for sale was a popular feature of the event. The venue, serving also as a nation-wide social event, featured rodeos, farm exhibits, lively music, entertainment and food. Profits from the 2014 NATS will be used to improve the NATS for 2015. Mark your calendar for April 24 - 26, 2015.
• Belize Poultry Association: The Belize Poultry Association (BPA) held it 2013 annual general meeting on Wednesday March 12, 2014 at the Biltmore Hotel. The guest speaker was the Hon. Gaspar Vega, Minister of Natural Resources and Agriculture. The new BPA Board of Directors is chaired by David P. Reimer of Spanish Lookout. Other members of the executive are Larry Reimer, Vice-Chair; David Hiebert, Secretary; and Bernhard Bergen, Treasurer. The highlight of the report was the increase in production of broiler meat (4.1%) and table eggs of 22%. The industry is poised as one of the highest contributors to agricultural GDP and the highest contributor to the livestock GDP. The industry wholesale value now stands at more than 100 million dollars. Chicken hovers above 107 lbs. of meat per capita and eggs are at 156 per capita. The industry is ever mindful of the potential entry of diseases and therefore remains ever vigilant through its biosecurity programmes. The BPA is planning a poultry school for the first week of November as a means of continuing education for its members.
• Belize Pig Council Updates, The Industry Slowly Expands and Thrives: Three swine inventories are done annually in Belize, and they reveal that there are about 20,000 live pigs in the country at any one time. Overall, our country pig head count is up 5-10% since our last swine industry article in Issue 17, August 2012. The geographic proportions for locations of the pigs in country are unchanged; 75% of the industry is still located in Shipyard, Orange Walk District. There are about 3 farms with over 1,000 head within Belize; one is in Spanish Lookout and the other large piggeries are located in Shipyard. Being smaller scale has its advantages regarding disease control. Pigs in Belize do not require any regular vaccinations. Coccidia treatments (wormers) are administered, and occasionally iron shots are given to the animals. Mexico is experiencing some problems with Porcine Epidemic Diarhea (PED); those farms are located in northern Mexico, far from Belize. PED does not affect humans, so is not a human public health issue. Porcine dressing percentages remain about the same, a respectable 74-76%, and slaughter houses note that there is an increased leanness on most carcasses. Regarding input costs, corn prices are stable and soybeans are up. Swine prices to the farmer are also rising. Weaner pigs (25-30 lbs) range from $85 to $120 for the top grade and finished butcher pigs (180 -230 lbs) are bringing $1.95 to 2.15/lb. Sale quantities are up and it appears Belizeans are consuming more pork, although a small number have been exported to Peten, Guatemala.
• Pigs in the Americas: The Belizean collared peccary, Tayassu tajacu, is a member of the family Suina and descends from the ancient Percheorus, who thrived in the Eocene era about 37 M years ago. Their cousins, the domesticated pig, originated in Eurasia and are also members of that Suina family. The Chinese domesticated the pig around 5000 BC. From China they spread throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. Christopher Columbus was the first to bring pigs into this hemisphere, carrying them on his ship by order of Queen Isabella, landing in Cuba in 1493. In 1539 Hernando deSoto sailed to Florida, carrying the first pigs on to the American mainland. The feral (wild) pigs of the Americas are descended from the escaped domestic pigs, not peccaries.
• Flamboyant Trees in Belize: The flamboyant tree has been described as one of the loveliest and most colorful trees in the world. With a blaze of yellow to crimson red blossoms and delicate fern-like leaves, the magnificent flowers grace Belize from April until September in Belize and all around the earth in tropical climates. Flamboyant trees belong to the family Fabaceae/ Legumiosea, sub-family Caesalpiniodeae. In addition to being a joy to behold, flamboyant trees also have healing properties and may be a source of revenue for Belize farmers and growers. Flamboyant trees, Delonix regia, have been grown primarily as ornamental shade trees since at least the 17th century. The tree is indigenous to Madagascar. Since the 18th century Flamboyant trees have been widely cultivated in most tropical regions. Other common names for the tree include: flame tree, fire tree, peacock tree, arbol el fuego. The tree was previously considered to be in the genus Poinciana and was known as royal Poinciana.
• Byrsonima crassifolia, aka: CRABOO, Love it, or ����..not: It's craboo time in Belize as we go to print. Children along the Hummingbird have been hawking them for weeks, and now in most of Belize it's craboo season too. There are some fruits, if one is not a native to their native area, growing up with them and their exotic smells and tastes, can never attain a 'favorite fruit' status. Newcomers to the tropics seldom stop by the speed bumps to purchase a $1. bag of craboo. But to those raised in craboo's native lands, from Mexico to Brazil and in much of the Caribbean, Byrsonima crassifolia is a treasured fruit, a reminder of their childhood, collecting ripe fruit under trees and eating fermented craboo during the Christmas holidays. Craboo has a particular aroma - indescribable, but unlikely to be utilized by the perfume industry. Other names include nance in Mexico, tapal in Guatemala, nance verde in El Salvador, and golden spoon in some of the Caribbean.
• Making Vinegar from Tropical Fruits: There are times when God gives us fruit so abundantly in the tropics that we don't always know what to do with it all. Homemade vinegar can be one way of using some of the excess, yielding a product with many uses: household, culinary and medicinal. We have made vinegar from many different fruits, including sweet and sour carambola, wax jamboo, Malay apple, pineapple, wild grape, and blackberry (java plum). I'm sure we have not exhausted all of the possibilities. Often, as in the case with pineapple or sweet carambola, vinegar is made from the peels and trimmings of a canning project, or in the case of blackberry or wild grape, with a juice making endeavor. Good, whole fruits can also be used, though we would tend to select the best Malay apples, for example, for other purposes and use the culls for vinegar. Once we made vinegar from a failed mango sauce canning project. A neighbor made vinegar from a bucket of orange juice left over from a wedding. In our communities, sour carambola has been the most faithful standby for vinegar, as it bears abundantly, but is too sour to eat as is. But fruits do not need to be sour to make good vinegar, for acetic acid is produced from sugar.
• Dear Rubber Boots, Can you recommend a good tropical gardening reference book? Thanks.: The absolute best reference on tropical fruits is Julia F. Morton's encyclopedic 1987 gem, Fruits of Warm Climates, ISBN: 0-9610184-1-0. She was a world renowned Research Professor at the University of Miami and served on numerous horticultural boards in the USA and internationally. Her maxim was: "I don't want to suppose. I want to know." The printed version is distributed by Creative Resource Systems, Inc. Box 890, Winterville, N.C. 28590, or find new and used copies on Amazon. Luckily, it is also online at Purdue University's site: http://www.hort.purdue. edu/newcrop/morton/index.html. The Bibliography in the back of this very reader-friendly classic 500+ page tome is 37 pages; this is THE source book for tropical fruits.
• The Honeybee Crisis: According to John Ross Crooks, editor of Sovereign Living magazine, 23% of American honeybee colonies died in 2013. In fact, every year since 2006, about 30% of the nation's honeybee colonies have perished. If honeybee populations continue to decline, a serious crisis lies ahead because they are vital to insect-pollinated plants that make up 1/3 of the human diet. The USDA estimates $15 billion in agricultural production hinges on the survival of the American honeybee. There is still some mystery behind colony collapse. Monoculture (the practice of growing a single crop over a large area), parasites, pesticides, sickness, genetics and habitat loss are believed to be factors. However, according to recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health, neonicotinoid, a pesticide class similar to nicotine, is a significant factor in the shocking decline of honeybee colonies.
• Study finds association between maternal exposure to agricultural pesticides: Pregnant women who lived in close proximity to fields and farms where chemical pesticides were applied experienced a two-thirds increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental delay, a study by researchers with the UC Davis MIND Institute has found. The associations were stronger when the exposures occurred during the second and third trimesters of the women's pregnancies. The large, multisite California-based study examined associations between specific classes of pesticides, including organophosphates, pyrethroids and carbamates, applied during the study participants' pregnancies and later diagnoses of autism and developmental delay in their offspring. It is published online today in Environmental Health Perspectives. "This study validates the results of earlier research that has reported associations between having a child with autism and prenatal exposure to agricultural chemicals in California," said lead study author Janie F. Shelton, a UC Davis graduate student who now consults with the United Nations. "While we still must investigate whether certain sub-groups are more vulnerable to exposures to these compounds than others, the message is very clear: Women who are pregnant should take special care to avoid contact with agricultural chemicals whenever possible."
• Mrs. Itza's SPECIAL CHRISTMAS CRABOO: This is a simplified method of how to ferment a 5 gallon bucket of craboo (Byrsonima crassifolia). Step 1: Wash the craboo and take out the stems. Step 2: Drain the water and add 10 lbs of brown sugar. Put the lid on tightly so no air can spoil the craboo. Step 3: After 3-4 weeks check to see if all the sugar has dissolved; if not then mix the craboo and sugar with a clean utensil. After maybe another 1-2 weeks sugar should be dissolved; drain out all the water (liquid) that is in the bucket. The reason for this is that all that liquid is very sour!! (not spoiled but sour as in 'lime sour'). By this time the craboo has changed in color from yellow to light brown.
• Chart Regarding Salt and Minerals: For more information on minerals in foods relative to health, see Dr. August Dunning's chart on our ONLINE ANNEX which appears with the regular .pdf of this issue, as page 39. The Dunning chart illustrates the eerie inverse relationship between the dropping mineral content in modern foods (post 1920) and the increase in health problems.
• : Local and Regional Fuel Prices
• Agriculture Prices at a Glance- $$$$$: Find local and some international commodity prices on our Agriculture Prices at a Glance section.
• Ag Briefs
• Letters To THE EDITOR

The February 2015 issue of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online.
Click HERE to download the PDF

This Issue's Stories:

• Spices: By Dr. Thomas Mathew of the Belize Spice Farm. Spices are plant products used to flavor or preserve food. Some spices are also used in medicines, perfumes and cosmetics. The spice trade began thousands of years ago by Arab merchants who controlled it. Later, Europeans dominated the trade, taking advantage of the monsoon wind (wind patterns between continents due to seasonal temperature differences). In 1499, the Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama landed on the Malabar Coast of Kerala, India (where the author was born and raised), in search of spices. At about the same time, Columbus, while trying to find a western route to reach India (also searching for spices), found the "New World". The spice trade strongly influenced world history. Colonial powers controlled many spice growing regions of the world and competed to gain and retain the control. Spices were the most precious commodity in the world at one time. India and Indonesia were the sources for black pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and turmeric. Allspice, bell and chili pepper, vanilla and chocolate were the New World's contributions to the spice family. Botanically, spices are variously classified as: dried fruits or seeds, such as black pepper; arils, such as mace or nutmeg; barks, such as cinnamon and cassia; dried flower buds, such as cloves; stigma, such as saffron; roots or rhizomes, such as turmeric and ginger; or resins, such as asafetida. The flavors of spice come from their volatile oils, which are oxidized on exposure to air and accelerated after powdering.
• The Chiquibul Forest Reserve - Ours to Keep - FROM MY PERCH columnist, Marguerite Fly Bevis: In the last column, warnings were issued to all Belizeans about the dire situation in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, the incursion and theft of natural resources and the woeful lack of personnel and equipment to deal with the problem. In September 2014, a tourism policeman was murdered at Caracol in the middle of the day, witnessed by horrified tourists, tour guides, and a fellow officer. The police had confiscated horses the previous day from illegal loggers who returned to issue their revenge on the unsuspecting young Danny Conorquie, who gave his life in the battle for sovereignty of this great nation, Belize. The resulting outcry was immediate and agonizing. Finally, Belizeans woke up to the unpleasant fact that Belize has been invaded and, indeed, is at war for its very sovereignty. Because of a continued lack of security efforts along the border by the Government of Belize for many years, the Guatemalans were emboldened to cross into Belize. It was just a matter of time before they would retaliate for Belizean authorities doing their job and disrupting their illegal activities.
• Pound Solids System of Payment for Citrus: Redistributing the Benefits: The pound system payment for citrus has been implemented for oranges since 2003 and for grapefruit since 2005. It has played a crucial role of rewarding payments for quality. Those growers who deliver quality fruit receive more monies than growers who deliver less quality fruits, i.e. fewer pounds per box of fruit delivered. Pound solids is the quantity of solids in a 90 pound box of orange or 80 pounds box of grapefruit. The solids are basically the sugar in the juice but can include other solid materials in juice. To obtain good pound solids, the right practices begin at the orchard level: taking good care of the citrus trees and the soil, which includes maintaining a good pH close to 6.0 and providing adequate fertilization. When fruits begin to mature, a sample is taken to the factory for analysis of quality. The timing of harvesting oranges and grapefruit at optimum maturity rewards the owner good payments for the pound solids in juice. As soon as the fruits are harvested they must be delivered in less than 24 hours. Once a fruit is harvested the decaying process begins immediately.
• Taiwan Experience On Huanglongbing (HLB) Management: Huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening devastated the citrus production in Taiwan in 1951. HLB disease caused great economic loss to the citrus industry by shortening tree lifespan and lowering fruit quality. In order to formulate adequate control measures of HLB, etiological and epidemiological studies and detection techniques on HLB were conducted in Taiwan. Now this systemic disease is generally controlled by integrated measures such as cultivating pathogen-free (PF) seedlings, eliminating inoculum sources and integrated pest management (IPM) - all this for reducing the secondary spread by the insect vector. Healthy Citrus Nursery Production in Taiwan In 1973, Taiwan began to produce PF healthy citrus trees with the use of mother trees from Ponkan and Tankan cultivars. These were selected and then pathogens were eliminated by heat therapy. In 1981, the government launched the Developmental and Assistance Program for the citrus industry in Taiwan; it was a three-level system (Foundation Tree, Scion Tree and Healthy Nursery Plant).
• Energetic Agriculture Mineral Requirements: To be productive soil must contain minerals such as boron, calcium, sulfur, carbon, silicon, manganese, magnesium, iron, nitrogen as nitrates & ammonia, potassium, phosphorous, cobalt, iodine, etc. in the right proportion. Neal Kinsey's book Hands-on Agronomy states "Good soil structure which as 25% air, 25% water and 50% minerals and humus in essence is based on mineral building blocks." In some parts of Belize the soil lacks phosphorous in adequate amounts for plant growth; the sandy soils of the "pineridge" generally lack calcium. The first task of the farmer is to have a soil test done, then add the minerals missing in the soil. Minerals can be supplied by compost or commercial fertilizer or a combination of both. However, some forms of commercial fertilizers such as muriate of potash (potassium chloride) used in moderate to high rates on soybeans can kill the germinating seed. Some chemicals, such as glyphosate, used to "protect crops" can destroy soil.
• Nontoxic Produce a Reality for Belize Growers Band Together to Meet High Demand for Organic Produce: Consumers worldwide have become increasingly alarmed at the incidence of agrochemical poisons in their food because indications are that it is the cause of increases in cancer and other serious diseases. There are many people who simply don't want produce that has been exposed to agrochemicals or other environmental toxins and GMOs. Some people are turning to organically produced vegetables in Belize because they know that agrochemicals are often not safely used. Washing cannot make vegetables safe because some of the chemicals are inside the produce. Belize, unfortunately, is not yet sufficiently monitoring the safety of the vegetables in the markets. There is no mechanism to guarantee that the farmer harvests and sells according to safe guidelines. How are consumers to find a nontoxic solution? One of the best ways to assure that food is grown safely and organically is to grow your own.
• Ginger Up Your Flower Beds: The garden of my childhood hosted a multitude of colourful plants: roses, cornflowers, geraniums, gladiolus, sweet williams, lavendar, pansies, violets, phlox et al and my favourites were the sweet smelling ones that had nectar which could be sucked and petals that could be eaten. Today I choose to plant only edibles and steer clear of anything allergenic or potentially poisonous. I was therefore very pleased to find that most gingers fall into this realm. Turmeric, galangal, cardamom - all have beautiful flowers and foliage and have valued culinary uses. When I first encountered Zingibar Zerumbet I was awe-struck and simply had to have some. It was introduced to me as shampoo ginger. The act of squeezing the bulbous head and receiving a generous stream of exotically scented smooth liquid in the palm of my hand had me sold. I imagine this is how Paul Mitchell felt discovering the awapuhi in Hawaii, which led him to create his famous line of hair products. It is mostly grown as a prized ornamental but what a pleasant surprise to find how versatile it is: not only nourishing the hair and body but having nutritional value and medicinal properties.
• The Soils of Belize by District/Region:
• Growing Nutritious Foods: If you have seen The Other Side of the Fence, originally made as a short educational movie presented by Dr. William Albrecht many years ago at the University of Missouri, I think you will agree that Dr. Albercht's words of wisdom on food nutrient values hold true today. Most of the authorities of the time would not accept the idea that just because the crops being grown "looked good," it did not mean farmers and gardeners were growing nutritious food and feed. I have grown an organic garden in the same place since 1978 using no commercial pesticides and try to work from a safe, natural approach. If that means controlling weeds and grass with a hoe, to me that is better than trying to kill everything else along with the unwanted plants. I do not use commercial N-P-K products because there is no need to do so in order to maintain the levels of each nutrient needed in our garden.
• Getting to Know Humus: The term humus is not used on most soil audits, but there is the designation, organic matter percent. Humus and organic matter are often used interchangeably. Humus is made up of decomposed residues which have been completely broken down in the soil by microorganisms. The organic matter or humus terms notwithstanding, when talking about a longterm reservoir for nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, boron and zinc, I am not talking about undecomposed residues. This is referring to the humus (that is, completely decomposed organic residues) - without it, the reservoir function wouldn't happen. Why does humus hold nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and boron while clay does not? Because humus is "stronger" than clay. If you could take a handful of clay in one hand and a handful of humus in the other hand, and measure the nutrients, humus has three times the nutrient-holding ability of the clay.
• Drought Relief for Corn and Forages - Is Zinc the Answer?: Corn growers are aware perhaps more than most crop farmers about the value of supplying adequate zinc for the crop. Among other uses, zinc is known to be needed for moisture absorption in growing plants. That is, when you don't have enough zinc, it requires more water to grow the same amount of yield because water is lost due to the inability of the plants to take it up in time. One of the farmers attending our introductory workshop on soil fertility admitted he never had much faith in soil testing to help determine his fertilizer program. But he and all his neighbors had a persistent problem. They all had cows, and every summer during July and August the grass would quit growing and die back due to too little rainfall. When this happened, both he and the neighbors had to feed hay to the cows, and it would happen every summer without fail.
• BEL-CAR Makes Belize's 1st Bulk Corn Export: Belize's first bulk export of corn was made late in October of 2014, after Bel-Car signed a contract with a Trinidadian company for 2,800 Metric tons of corn. The cost of producing corn in Belize exceeds the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) prices. However, the Trinidadian buyer who purchased this corn paid more than the CBOT price as they realize that Belize's corn is of higher quality, which will more than compensate for the higher cost. The 2800 M T (equivalent to 124 of 50,000 lb container loads) shipped from the port of Big Creek in Southern Belize. Bel-Car brought their own portable augers for loading, and had 30 Spanish Lookout trucks delivering the corn from Spanish Lookout to the port on a 24 hour basis until the job was completed. Bel-Car's Paul Penner acknowledged, "loading a bulk vessel without the right equipment is a challenge. We managed to load it at that time. But in the future a better conveying system will need to put in place."
• Rice Production in Spanish Lookout: Spanish Lookout rice producers report that there is more than ample rice supplies for the coming year. Although it was a dry year for them, yields were considered average and similar to last year's. There was somewhat of an issue with the Spinki mite, because of the drought. The harvest of 190,000 bags of paddy rice produced roughly 139,785 milled bags (60%). Average yield was 2681 lbs/acre (milled). The rice acreage remains stable, and slowly farmers are converting to flooded or irrigated fields.
• Rabies - A Serious Consideration: On 28th September every year, the world unites in the fight against rabies by celebrating World Rabies Day, a day of activism and awareness. It is the global movement to put an end to the suffering caused by rabies. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) states, "Rabies kill around 70,000 people a year and more than 95 % of human cases are caused by bites from infected dogs." The last human case in Belize was in 1989 when two children died after playing with a dog and her puppies. Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in humans and other warm-blooded animals. The time period between contracting the disease and the start of symptoms in humans is usually one to three months; however, it can vary from less than one week to more than a year.
• BLPA UPDATE By Alistair Macpherson, CEO of the Belize Livestock Producers Association: Over the last couple of months there has been much going on within the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA) and our industry, and for once all seems to be good news. The BLPA has embarked on producing a 10 year plan, a long term strategy with defined goals for ensuring the sustainability, growth and improvement of our industry at all l e v e l s . It is necessary to have this type of strategy in place when we talk to potential partner organisations who will provide technical and financial support for projects we may want to run in the future. Basically these donor organisations want to make sure that they are dealing with an organisation that "has a plan" and has certain administrative, financial and planning systems in place and has the capacity to run these projects whether it is a small artificial insemination (AI) project for farmer groups or running the Belize livestock registry (BLR).
• The Importance of Biological Nitrogen Fixation: Nitrogen uptake or assimilation is essential to the survival, growth and reproduction of all plant species. In general, plant nitrogen requirements are met by root uptake and in some cases leaf and stem absorption of ammonia (NH3) and/or nitrate (NO3) forms of nitrogen. However, plants don't always get these forms of nitrogen they need directly due to the competition for ammonia and nitrate uptake with soil microorganisms, volatilization into the atmosphere and soil leaching. Conversely, soil ammonia levels are replenished via the process of ammonification or the breakdown/decomposition of nitrogen-containing plant and animal tissues. However, over the course of geologic time, nitrogen losses due to the combination of nitrification/denitrification by microorganisms have been significantly greater than nitrogen inputs due to ammonification, resulting in approximately 80 percent of the atmosphere consisting of dinitrogen (N2). Consequently, in the rooting zone of many soil-plant systems across the globe, nitrogen availability is often the most limiting factor in terms of overall plant growth and seed production.
• Growing Carob in Belize: Carob is actually a shrub, but usually considered to be a tree because it can grow to be fifty feet with a broad spreading canopy of dark green, glossy, leathery leaves. Although not well known in Belize, cultivation of carob has potential to be successfully grown here. The prevailing advice is: "anywhere citrus is grown, carob may be grown". Carob (Ceratunia siliqua), is a leguminous evergreen shrub/tree which is a member of the Fabaceae (pea or legume) family. The versatile trees are grown for their pods, seeds and wood, enjoyed as a showy ornamental shade trees, or pruned to form a dense screening hedge. Wood of the tree is hard and close-grained. It is prized for turnery (objects made on a lathe), furniture and cabinet wood. As a fuel it burns slowly and creates an excellent charcoal. Carob trees are fireresistant and are sometimes planted around homes in areas where there is a high risk for fires to help protect homes and property.
• Management System for Sugar Industry - A Giant Step Forward: Since its activation in 2009, the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) has made great strides in assisting the cane sugar farmers to improve the quality and quantity of sugar cane. But with over 5000 farmers, hundreds of thousands of acreage in two districts (Orange Walk and Corozal), 8 varieties of cane in commercial production, and only 4 technical field extension officers an obvious requirement was a management system. That need is being met with Sugar Industry Management Information System (SIMIS) under the leadership of Gregorio Canto. When operational, the system will be a comprehensive data base of sugar cane fields, indexed in detail by geographic location. The system will allow farmers and field extension officers to (1) monitor soil fertility, plant growth, pests, weeds and disease control, and water quality and drainage, (2) coordinate schedules for planting and harvesting, (3) assist farmers with record keeping, (4) identify common problems to be addressed, and (5) assess unique problems.
• Belize River Valley Ltd. (formerly Tennessee Farms) Hosts Discussion on Sustainable Farming Center for Belize in Burrell Boom: Belize River Valley, Ltd. (BRV) of Burrell Boom, Belize organized a meeting on January 9, 2015 to discuss various agro-ecological principles that could be applied in Belize.Over forty people from thirty different groups attended the meeting this morning. The featured speaker at the workshop was Dr. Miguel Altieri of the University of California Berkeley's agro-ecology program. Dr. Altieri provided an overview of the principles underlying agro-ecological development and presented numerous examples of sustainable farming practices that have endured since the dawn of agriculture. His worldwide involvement in assisting farmers allows him to share successes across many cultures. He showed amazing "before" and "after" pictures of projects in Peru, China, Cuba and Mexico with a special emphasis on 'chinamapas' used by Mayan cultures.
• School Gardens Ministry of Education (MOE) leads way to bring school gardens to Belize and Stann Creek Districts: Workshops were held for over 20 teachers in Belize City on 11 & 12 August, and similar workshops were held for over 20 teachers in Dangriga on 13 & 14 August to help them bring back garden-based learning to our Belizean classrooms. Approximately one half day was spent on each of 4 general subject areas: Administering a School Garden Program, Agricultural Practices, Hands-on Agriculture, and Integrating Garden-Based Learning into the curriculum. Yvonne Codd, Health and Nutrition Officer for MOE organized the workshops, and explained the history of school gardens in Belize, and some of the many benefits of gardenbased learning: improved nutrition, a teaching tool that can be used to improve the learning of science and other academic subjects, vocational education, life skills, and more.
• Dairy Products at Home, Making Cottage Cheese: This is the first in a series aimed at instructing readers in the simplest ways of processing dairy foods at home. Whether you are interested in keeping your own milking cow, or are able to procure fresh milk from a neighbor, you may be surprised how easy it is to produce your own yoghurt or cheeses. A theme of this series will be how to do these things in tropical weather without refrigeration, as many Belizeans do still live without electricity. Others living a more modern lifestyle may be glad to learn that it is possible to live without refrigeration even when using milk, the most perishable of foods. Thankfully, God designed cows to be milked every 12 hours. 12 hours is enough time for most of the cream to rise to the top of the milk container and in almost any weather the milk is still sweet after that long. Therefore, in general, you can have sweet milk to drink always on hand, if you milk your own cow. What about the milk that becomes sour?
• Turmeric - A Tasty, Beautiful Plant with a Powerhouse of Healing Properties: Turmeric is the root spice which is a main ingredient in curry and mustard. The plant is also a stunning, flowering, tropical delight in the garden. Turmeric has recently been 'rediscovered' as a plant with rhizomes with many healing properties. It is easy to grow, especially in the tropics. The entire plant is edible, from the leaves, which are used as a wrap for grains and vegetables, to the exotic, decorative white flowers and especially the yellow-orange rhizomes, which are enjoyed world-wide in South Asian and Indian cuisine. Turmeric rhizomes may be grated or chopped raw in salads, rice dishes or in curries and coconut sauces, or may be used in ground powdered form after being boiled, dried and ground. The taste is described as a subtly pungent, peppery, zesty flavour with warm, slightly bitter undertones and a mild pleasant fragrance. In addition to its culinary, medicinal and landscape attraction, turmeric is used as an ingredient in perfume and as a yarn and clothing dye.
• Raising Chickens - Naturally at New Life Farm: A colorful array of chickens roaming around a 15 acre field greeted us at New Life Farm when we visited there to see their portable chicken coops. We happened to arrive during the hour in the morning that the chickens are let out of their coops to supplement the grass available to them as the floor of their coops. They are also let out for an hour in late afternoon. When it's time to go back into their coops, Abel Garcia, who manages the operation, says he heads for a coop and all the chickens that belong in that coop run after him. Their in-coop organic diet, consisting of rain water and ground white corn, local grasses, various beans, rice, amaranth, and milo grown on the farm, mineral supplements, and weeds pulled from their gardens, was developed by Dr. Keller and his workers, Abel and Antonio Orsini.
• Belmopan 2014 Rain:
• : Local and Regional Fuel Prices
• Agriculture Prices at a Glance- $$$$$: Find local and some international commodity prices on our Agriculture Prices at a Glance section.
• Ag Briefs
• Letters To THE EDITOR

The May 2015 issue of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online.
Click HERE to download the PDF

This Issue's Stories:

• Tropical Agro-Forestry -- A Belize Bamboo Project: Bamboos are very well adapted to Belize growing conditions. These elegant plants thrive in many soils and bring a tropical look to any landscape. Over the years, we have introduced many varieties of useful and beautiful tropical clumping bamboos to our farm on tranquil Spanish Creek in the Belize District. This article is a summary of our progress to date. Our bamboo agro-forestry project began in January, 2005 when we purchased a second growth forested property of 1978 acres. Tropical Agro-Forestry, Ltd. was formed and we began to study our site. At the recommendation of the Belize Forestry Department, we started to work with the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA). BAHA officials began a pest risk analysis (PRA) to verify that the introduction of bamboo would pose no risk to other crops in Belize. After a year of research and site visit to south Florida to view bamboo plants there, the protocol for the importation of bamboo into Belize was developed. Bamboo plants from cuttings were started in our nursery in grow bags of native soil amended with rice hulls and compost. We planted our nursery starts in the field later that year on 50 acres on the forest edge. Our varieties are clumping types of Bambusa and Dendrocalamus species. We are currently introducing new and exciting varieties from south Florida. In a few years, we will also have young nursery plants available for sale or trade.
• Belize Ag Report Thankfully Enters 7th Year of Publishing�: fledgling edition, but it has. From a vague concept of providing information useful to producers, and thanks to the confidence of our advertisers and the growing cadre of passionate contributors, we have grown not only in size (24 pgs of issue #1, to 44 pgs of issue #28), but in focus and in geographical coverage. In this issue you will find 2014 crop data from Blue Creek (Mennonite) community (pg 36), as well as prices now delineated by location in Belize for several commodities. Thank you to all our writers, an expanding group of diverse talents, some one time writers, some regulars; we appreciate you all. You expose the variety of Belizean agriculture that is its signature. More binds us than divides us. Regarding the current rice importation/marketing debate unfolding, we should keep our eyes on food security via local production (pg 36). Together, the ag community has a tremendous lobbying power to help mold Belize's future. Opinions are always valued, welcomed and usually printed in our Letters to the Editor section. Discussion by sharing information is our goal.
• Is citrus a dying industry?: Dear Editor, As citrus production continues to fall in our country, 4 million boxes last year down from 7 million a few years ago, citrus growers need to ask themselves, "Why are we letting this happen?" We know the main reasons: low prices and Citrus Greening disease. Why are we doing nothing about it? Can we do anything about it, or are we doomed to lose our investments? Let's look at the reasons and determine if the inevitable can be avoided. 1. Low prices - The citrus processor paid growers last year $10.50 per box of fruit. Florida growers received $27 per box for the same quality. Florida growers spent $4,000. per acre in an attempt to keep their groves alive and producing until a solution to Citrus Greening is found. Even so, theirs is a stopgap measure as production has fallen from their 170 million boxes of a few years ago to the current forecast of below 100 million boxes. Without heavy inputs of foliar sprays and a heavy Psyllid (the bug that spreads Greening) control, they will soon have no industry. In Belize, our only cost saving versus Florida's is our cost of labor. Everything else costs more here. As our national average production in Belize is reputed to be 175 boxes per acre, a gross income of $1,750 per acre will not allow for sufficient inputs. We will and are, going out of business.
• State-of-the-Art Citrus Nursery: By Thomas E. Tate, Nursery Manager for Plant World Nursery, CGA. Who we are... Plant World Nursery was created to complement the existing nursery production capacity and ensure the availability of citrus plants in the quantity urgently required by the citrus industry to replant and replace uneconomic diseased trees, thereby lowering the Huanglongbing (HLB) innoculum in the industry. Plant World Nursery is a state-of-the-art nursery facility located on the Red Bank Road off the Southern Highway. It consists of four greenhouses totaling 3.6 acres of covered space. There are three nursery structures of about 1 acre each for the production of clean (disease-free) nursery plants. The other structure, covering about 0.2 acre, is used for budwood production. Plant World Nursery sits on 18 acres of land out of 100 acres available for nursery expansion or for the planting of fruit crops like citrus, soursop and pineapples that are processed at the citrus factory. In addition to direct support of the fruit juice industry, the nursery will also be able to produce other fruit trees for customers.
• Conquering the Silent Killer - The Pink Hibiscus MealyBug: Did you know that you could be harbouring thousands of pests in your backyard? And did you know that thousands if not millions of dollars can be lost because of it? The hibiscus plant serves as an aesthetic plant, decorating our beautiful yards, but at the same time serves as the perfect place for the silent killer to hide and survive. Since its detection in 1999, the silent killer has been largely ignored. The pink hibiscus mealybug (Maconellicoccus hirsutus Green), as it is widely known, has unnoticeably established itself throughout the country causing significant challenges to plant growth during dry conditions, especially impacting agriculture's stability and the livelihoods of many farmers. Mealybug infestations appear on a large number of host plants as a tiny, soft bodied insect that looks like a mass of cotton. Mealybugs are sucking insects that feed on sap of young tissues on plants by introducing its mouth part called a stylet. Through its feeding mechanism, the mealybug introduces toxic saliva inside the system of the host plant causing significant visual symptoms such as curling leaves, deformed fruits and flowers and stunted growth.
• Management of Soil Micro-organisms for Improving Organic Matter Levels in Belize: By Dr. Stephen Zitzer. Agricultural soils and undisturbed soils both consist of complex communities of living organisms. It would be foolish to lump all plowed fields and native soils together as just "plain dirt". However, all soils do fundamentally rely on similar groups of soil bacteria and fungi to consume and break down living and dead organic matter and mineral rocks into small mobile chemical forms of most elements that they contain. Among these decomposition products are the 16 essential elements plants require for growth that are in forms most plant species are capable of absorbing through root, stem and/or leaf surfaces. Besides conducting these critical chemical transformations, the life and death of trillions upon trillions of soil bacteria and fungi result in the development of soil structure. Soil structure, or really development of interconnected internal pore spaces, provides the microscopic infrastructure or plumbing that allows soils to breathe, eat, drink and grow. As soils age, a general measure of their growth is the amount of carbon they accumulate, most of it incorporated in living and dead organic matter or biomass. Associated with soil carbon accumulation is the accumulation of most of the soil nutrients required for plant growth and an overall increase in biodiversity.
• Update On Avian Influenza: By Dr. Miguel Depaz. Avian influenza (AI) is a highly contagious viral infection, primarily in avian species. Clinical signs range from inapparent in wild birds to a rapidly fatal condition in domestic poultry. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) requires notification of this disease once the subtype is H5 or H7 due to its zoonotic (affect humans) potential and the virus's ability to mutate into a highly pathogenic avian influenza which may cause high mortality in poultry and great economic loss. BAHA through its active surveillance for avian diseases detected, for the first time in Belize, Avian Influenza H5N2 on January 14th, 2015 at two poultry farms in Spanish Lookout, Cayo. The detection was confirmed by the OIE reference laboratory, The National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), USA. The two poultry farms were immediately placed under precautionary quarantine and the implementation of six checkpoints to control the movement of poultry and poultry products in the area was begun. BAHA has also increased surveillance in the area to determine the spread of the disease.
• Fabulous Forest Food: By Jenny Wildman. Twelve species of Chamaedora are reportedly found in the understory beneath the forest canopy of Belize. Three of these have value for cut leaves, the best known being Xate. As usual I search for plants that are edible and nutritious giving us interesting food alternatives. The Chamaedora tepejilote, date palm or Pacaya is an attractive ornamental palm but also produces a vegetable well known to many as chib. The tree thrives in shady locations and usually grows a single trunk reaching as high as twenty feet but there are also clumping varieties. The petiole has a prominent yellow stripe, the tree produces very showy decorative berries and the male and female flowers grow on separate trees. The stems can be used as heart of palm but the prize is in the male inflorescence which is the delicacy grown commercially in Guatemala and canned for export. The female flower is reportedly tastier than the male but not as readily available and reserved for special occasions in some places. The chib is mostly eaten fresh and planted in home gardens. It grows abundantly in Central America and has huge commercial potential. I found studies of production and forest management which say that by removing fifty per cent of the trees leaves the male plants produced twice as many inflorescence. Useful information if you decide to cultivate. The palms have great longevity so you can plan on harvesting for many years.
• The Soils of Belize by District/Region Northern Regions-continued: The Xaibe Plain land system extends across the southern border of the Corozal District into the Orange Walk District. The recent alluvium soils of the western Corozal District and contiguous northwestern Orange Walk District contain some swampy areas due to limited drainage across the Bravo Hills that originates from the land region. The dominant drainage course is in the Rio Bravo into the Rio Hondo. The only alluvium found is in large solution basins in the north, the Neustadt Swamps. This area is an open savannah plain and low marsh forest plain based on recent alluvium. Wetness, low nutrient availability, severe workability and root room limitations as well as anaerobic conditions preclude development and these soils are marginal to moderate in suitability for rice. Most of the better lands have been taken up by sugar cane production. Another feature of this area is the occurrence every few years of severe flooding which can last for weeks in some areas.
• CASSAVA - The Old Becomes New Again: By Beth Roberson. When CARICOM member states met in September 2014 to discuss regional agricultural policy and strategy, they assessed the region's food imports and made recommendations for production and trade opportunities in foods. They recognized that the Caribbean is heavily dependent on imported foods. With a population of 16M people in the 15 CARICOM countries, the annual food import bill is in excess of US$4 Billion. This figure has doubled in the last 10 years. Further, they recognized that often these imported (and often processed) foods also contribute to the increasing incidence of diet related diseases. Thus the CARICOM delegates have been seeking alternative commodities which can reduce the import bill and increase consumption of healthier alternatives. Cassava and sweet potato were identified as fitting the bill to remedy some of these issues. "Their analyses show that there is a huge untapped import-substitution market opportunity for flour, feed and beer (and possibly energy, if volumes permit) that can be addressed by utilization of cassava."* Belize we know has the conditions to grow good cassava. At this time there is one commercial cassava factory in Belize, Sabal Cassava Farm, at 3 � Miles Stann Creek Valley Rd, Stann Creek District. They have been growing mainly 2 varieties of cassava from the same germplasm for about 20 yrs; the white on about 12-15 acs, and the yellow, on about 3 acres, all close to the factory.
• Soil Analysis A Necessity for Good Crops: By Neal Kinsey. If it were possible to accomplish improvements in just one step considering all aspects of soil fertility and fertilization, where would be the place to begin? Many answers will likely come to mind depending on the past experience of each person. But all types of growers from farmers to gardeners should consider that without a proper foundation on which to build an excellent soil fertility program, it will not be possible to achieve the full range of benefits that could otherwise be available. Working with farmers and growers on fertility needs for all kinds of crops in all states of the US and many other countries, learning or obtaining the experience, knowledge and understanding concerning how excellent soil fertility works to benefit all crops has been most helpful. Taking a sufficient number of soil samples to show all those differences that can significantly affect crop quality and yield potential seems to be the most important step that is not normally taken seriously enough for the benefit of the land and those who live from it. If all of the soil in a field were alike, it would all look the same, feel the same and grow the very same way. But that is seldom the case. If the soil has any major differences in texture, color, or plant population - even different weed or grass/legume populations - chances are the fertility will be significantly and measurably different as shown by using a detailed soil analysis. For farmers, consultants and all others dealing with soil fertility and fertilization this should be the principal goal, to help each farmer learn how a detailed soil fertility program that accurately identifies crop needs can become most helpful.
• $12 Million Project to Boost Belize Forests : By Dottie Feucht. "We like our forests and waterways; we want them protected from illegal logging, runoff of agrochemicals upstream, and deforestation. We look forward to working together to achieve the goals." These were some of the comments of the citizens groups in response to the project plan presented by Tanya Santos Neal, project manager, and Eugene Waight, project officer, at the official launching of the project on March 25. Funded by the Global Environment Facility and administered by The World Bank, the five year project aims to manage and protect natural habitats of high conservation value, called Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA), that total more than 500,000 acres including: 1. Fresh Water Creek Forest Reserve 2. Spanish Creek Wildlife Sanctuary 3. Vaca Forest Reserve 4. Chiquibul National Park 5. Maya Mountain North Forest Reserve 6. Columbia River Forest Reserve Mr. Enos Esikuri from the World Bank said that in other parts of the world Belize is known for its pristine forests and waterways. Indeed, Belize has the largest forest coverage in Central America but deforestation is alarming. In November, 1980 74% of Belize was forest; by June, 2014, that percentage dropped to 60.3%. The largest amount of the grant money has been allocated to sustainable forest management.
• BEL-CAR UPDATES: As usual, BEL-CAR is keeping up with the world, with their CEO Otto Friesen serving as an unofficial ambassador of our growing Belizean agricultural community. Otto and another traveled to Las Vegas, USA, to attend a conference for CICILS. "CICILS is the not-for-profit peak body for the whole global pulses industry value chain. As the sole international confederation for the industry, it enjoys membership from 18 national associations (federations) and over 600 private sector members in an industry worth over $100. Billion at the retail level and over 60 M tonnes in pulse production and distribution in over 55 countries."* CICILS is headquartered in Dubai. Corn - Last year's corn crop is diminishing nicely - enough for the local market and some sales to Guatemala (mainly for pig feed). The buyer of last fall's bulk corn shipment (see last issue #27, pg 16) is negotiating for another bulk load, but supplies do not warrant another bulk sale until the new crop arrives. Guyana's rice flood (flood of rice not water), now with a 2nd year of bumper rice crops, is still hampering Belize's corn sales (see issue 27, pg 16 and this issue, pg 36). Some in the Caribbean switch cheap rice for our premium corn. Beans - Currently there is a world shortage for black eye peas and black eye prices are up. This would put Belize in a good situation except for the quality this year. The harvesting was still going on at time of the interview for this article, as there was a 6 wk. time span planting. The quality of the first planting does not indicate it reaches world market standards.
• PUROXI: Hydrogen Peroxide Based Water Treatment Product Helps Protect and Increase Profits In All Types of Farming: About 3 yrs ago, Spanish Lookout poultry producer (broilers and layers), Dennis Dueck, heard about a water treatment product which helped farms obtain 'clean, clear nutritional water', and treated 'water as a nutrient' which would 'boost the immune system' of animals and at the same time 'helped reduce dependency on antibiotics' and even increase feed conversion rates. As this seemed almost too good to be true, Dennis followed up with more inquiries, then purchased a system and product. Eventually he became the country distributor for B.C. Canadian company, Puroxi Pure Water Global Inc. This led to the opportunity to expand distribution further into Latin America and the Caribbean. The home company has been in business for over 7 years, while the product is 17 years old. The company is now a leader in the water purification business. The science behind Puroxi Water is simply that it has found a way to stabilize hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and customize it with natural formulas which breaks down to oxygen and water once used. Viruses and many contaminants hate oxygen and/ or do not thrive in an oxygenated environment. Chlorine has been and is still commonly used in many industries as a disinfectant. Chlorine though, is very harsh, and actually some chlorine treated products, such as chicken meat cleaned with chlorine, are currently banned in the EU.
• Nutrient-Smart Agriculture Arrives in Belize, HarvestPlus Agronomists Explain Biofortification: The recently concluded Second International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) in Rome, Italy, identified nutrition-sensitive agriculture as one of the priorities in the quest to end global hunger and malnutrition by 2025. The conference outcome commits world leaders (attendant 170 countries) to establish national policies aimed at eradicating malnutrition and transforming food systems to make nutritious diets available to all. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) two billion people worldwide suffer from hidden hunger. Twothirds of all deaths, globally, are now diet-related (The Lancet, 2012). Global food systems are failing because they have neglected the most fundamental purpose of the agricultural systems- to nourish people. The global community is now calling on agriculture to respond to what the Copenhagen Consensus has twice in the past few years identified as the greatest challenge facing humankind - poor nutrition caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet on a warming planet. We need to re-envision agriculture as the primary source of sound nutrition through the food people harvest and eat. This is a radical concept in the true sense of the word - returning to the root or fundamental purpose of agriculture.
• Onion Research in Belize: In Belize, commercial onion (Allium cepa L.) production was started in 1988 through the efforts of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA) formerly the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF). The objective was to promote diversification toward high income vegetable crops in the northern part of the country where most farmers were involved in sugarcane production. Because of falling sugar prices, the potential loss of preferential market and an ever increasing food importation bill, the ministry's plan was to increase locally produced crops. Onion research started with the establishment of onion variety plots in the Cayo and Orange Walk Districts. After eight years of field evaluation, the results indicated that the northern part of country was most favorable for onion production due to its agro-ecological conditions. As a result, today the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts are the major producers of onion followed by the Belize District. Only a few farmers grow onion in the Cayo District.
• ONION FIELD DAY in COROZAL: well-coordinated effort of Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA) and their extension officers and Central Farm's Crop Research and Development Unit, was held in Corozal District on Wednesday 25, 2015. Presentations were made at each farm, by MNRA and the Research Unit, while visiting onion trials at the private farms of Mr. Donicio Che, Mr. Santiago Masariego, Mr. Romaldo Escamilla and the Little Belize (Mennonite) Community. There were different planting times for each farm, caused by inclement rainy weather having delayed optimum planting time. Optimum planting time for the short-day length onions in northern Belize is October or November. Most were planted much later for the 2014/2015 season, even into January of 2015. Several of the farms also had severe problems with downy mildew, Peronospora destructor, caused by the wet cool weather.
• Drop Into the Green - The Nohoch Ch'en Expedition: The seeds for the Nohoch Ch'en Expedition were planted years ago when Neil Rogers flew over the Chiquibul Forest and took the first images we had ever seen of the giant sinkhole. My husband, Jim Bevis, owner and operator of Mountain Equestrian Trails (MET), Cayo kept that photo above his desk for the next twenty odd years. This was one expedition he was determined to make happen. Jim approached Mr. Rafael Manzanero, Executive Director of Friends for Conservation & Development (FCD), for endorsement and to ensure that an expedition into this massive sinkhole would be beneficial to the development of the FCD Karst Management Program in this remote area of the Chiquibul. The answer was, "Let's do it." The purpose of the expedition would be to document one of the most remote, rugged and unexplored locations in Belize and to hopefully further justify to Belize and the world, the uniqueness and value of this region as a potential World Heritage site. The Nohoch Ch'en sinkhole, the largest of 49 collapsed doline formations that are located mostly over the Chiquibul Cave System, is located in an area where surface water is very scarce, making it challenging to explore for long periods of time. Very little scientific information was available for this region of the Chiquibul National Park, let alone the forest environment at the bottom of the 650' wide and 450' deep sinkhole. In the year 2000, several members of the Millennium Expedition descended by rope into the sinkhole and made brief observations, but time did not permit exploration and little data was collected, as this was not the main focus of their expedition.
• Agriculture: The Continuing Pillar of Our Economy: By Zeidi Bowman of Atlantic Bank. Agricultural exports have increased by 32% from $322.2 million in 2011 to $481.0 million in 2014, and accounted for up to 80% of total exports in 2014, despite declining total export levels over the same period ($680.9 million in 2011 - $602.9 million in 2014) caused mainly by decreasing exports of crude petroleum. The traditional sub-sectors including marine products, sugar, citrus, and bananas have maintained their stronghold, while other non-traditional exports like pepper sauces, citrus oil (orange and grapefruit), grains, corn meal, and others accounted for 15% of the agricultural exports. Non- traditional exports have increased by 53% from $47.8 million in 2011 to $73.0 million in 2014, showing the growth trend in the sub-sectors. These figures show that the agriculture sector continues to be of economic significance and is classified as one of the strongest economic pillars of the Belizean economy. As export earners as well as an import substitute, all agricultural products give Belize its sustainable economic strength and its status as a serious trading partner in the region. The agriculture sector's short and long-term prospects for Belizean prosperity continue as good and even better than they were in the era prior to oil exploration and exports.
• DOE and Renco Work Together Recycling Batteries: Lead acid battery recycling is one of the most successful recycling programs in the world. In the United States 99% of all battery lead was recycled between 2009 and 2013. The two components that make this product hazardous are lead and sulfuric acid. Some lead compounds are extremely toxic. Long-term exposure to even tiny amounts of these compounds can cause brain and kidney damage, hearing impairment, and learning problems in children. In Belize the Department of the Environment (DOE) along with Renco Battery launched a lead acid battery recycling program in 2004 and it functioned for only about 2 years. Now they are trying to resurrect the program and collaborate with other retailers and the public.
• Plastics to Oil : By Dottie Feucht. "Disposing of plastic is a global problem. Plastic comes from oil so why not convert it back to oil?" That's what Japanese engineer, Akinori Ito, thought as his team set about to develop a machine to do just that. Plastic does not have to be broken down; it is put into the machine "as is" from garbage bags. The machine melts the plastic which becomes liquid which is passed through water. The result? Same as refined oil from which the plastic was made. 1 kg plastic = 1 liter of oil that can be used as fuel. "Waste is a treasure," Mr. Ito emphasizes as he demonstrates his machines to school children who eagerly collect plastic waste for his machine. He estimates that this process, used globally, could reduce 80% of CO2 emissions.
• The Sugar Industry Management Information System (SIMIS): SIMIS, initiated at the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI) headquarters in Buena Vista Village, Corozal District, currently holds one of the largest agriculture databases in Belize. It includes soils data from the Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association (BSCFA), weather data, field data and pest (frog hopper) monitoring data. SIMIS is being developed as a collaborative effort among sugar industry stakeholders in northern Belize with funding from the European Union through the institutional strengthening project of SIRDI. Project implementation includes two phases Phase 1: � Development of a cane parcel database � Development of a farmer identification (ID) system � Establishment of a governance and management framework Phase 2: � Building of the SIMIS infrastructure � Development of a cane estimate process � Design and implementation of a harvest management system � Development of related proposals (Aerial, Photo etc.) Based on an estimate of approximately 79,000 acres of cane fields in the sugar belt, system personnel are currently conducting a sweep of the sugar belt to validate this data. Data collected and verified includes owner of cane fields, variety planted, age of cane, condition of cane field and a production estimate.
• Luciano Sho TCGA's Cacao Farmer of the Year: Based on his keen interest and support of Toledo Cacao Growers Association (TCGA), high producer of quality cocoa with excellent flavor characteristic, being a good role model and giving back to his community, Luciano Sho was chosen the TCGA farmer of the year in 2014. He inherited his father's 3 acre farm and expanded it to 21 acres where he cultivates at least six thousand five hundred cacao trees including Criollo, Trinitario, and Forastero varieties. Having attended cacao growers seminars in other Central American countries Luciano has shared his new insights and helpful information with other TCGA farmers. As with many TCGA farmers, Luciano ferments and dries his beans on his farm before they are taken to the TCGA facility in San Antonio, Toledo. He ferments them in cascading special boxes 3.5 - 4 feet high and dries them on long tables under roof. Cacao beans are properly screened, bagged and sold in 125 pound bags with data identifying the farmer and dates of production. After arriving at the TCGA facility, the beans are tested for moisture and proper fermentation. Estevan Assi, TCGA's compliance officer, is in charge of quality control and generally oversees the operation ensuring that quality for the markets are met.
• Purple Corn Possibilities for More Than Ixpaxa and Tortillas: In August of 2014 the Belize Ag Report started a folder on purple corn, after noting the price for one pound on amazon.com - a stunning US$8.95. Eight months later, April 2015, the price from the same brand (barryfarm.com) on amazon has crept up to US$10.95/lb. The bulk (discounted) price on amazon from another supplier (Angelina's Gourmet Purple Corn): US$55.40/25 lbs, and hold onto your hat, Natural Traditions Corn Powder, Purple, retails on amazon for US$18.42/3.5 ounces. What is so special about this corn to merit these astounding prices? Is the purple corn of Belize equally special, with export potential? Many countries around the world - USA, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Japan and Thailand are becoming interested in blue or purple corn varieties native to South and Central America, as they are unusually high in anthocyanin/ flabophen content, which is linked to anti-oxidant quality. In a trial at Ohio State University, Asst. Professor of Food Sciences Monica Giusti tested anthocyanins from different plant sources (including purple corn, grapes, radishes, chokeberries, bilberries, purple carrots and elderberries), to see how much of each source of anthocyanin it would take to reduce cancer growth (lab grown human colon cancer cells) by 50%.
• The IICA Focus in Belize: The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA) is focused on 4 central themes: family farming, resilience and climate change, value chains and inclusion and food security. IICA Belize has been working diligently at ensuring that our efforts reflect the needs of the country, taking into account IICA's strengths, and the priorities identified in IICA's 2014-2018 Medium Term Plan. Our priorities for 2015 will focus on selected value chains, continuing our work in support of the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), launching new initiatives to support the cattle and processing sectors, and providing additional support to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture in rolling out the new National Agricultural and Food Policy.
• The Associates Degree in Applied Agriculture - A Competency-Based Approach to Agriculture Training at UBCF: Youth and Sports (MOEYS), the agriculture program at The University of Belize Central farm (UBCF) has undergone realignment to make it more demand-driven. This initiative, known as CARICOM Education for Employment (C-EFE), is funded by the Canadian government, partner colleges of western Canada namely, Lakeland, Parkland, and Bow Valley, and UB. It is designed to link education to employment in preparing graduates for the workplace. The new curriculum focuses on knowledge, skills, and attitude development with training expanded to include significant workplace practice. Students will be prepared for several career paths based on a recently conducted labor market survey undertaken by the college. Graduates of the new program are also eligible for direct entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Science degree of the University of the West Indies (UWI) at the St. Augustine campus.
• BLPA'S AGM - A Rousing Success: An enthusiastic and positive group of approximately 80 ranchers from all over Belize converged at their headquarters at Mile 47 � George Price Hwy. on February 28th, for the AGM of the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA). Chairman Abdala Bedran opened the meeting with reports of a whopping 240% increase in cess collections, and healthy monthly accounting reports by Owen Codd. Chairman Bedran continued with good news for the Belizean cattle industry. BLPA has met with counterparts in Guatemala, the senior livestock officer for Peten and BLPA joined as a member and attended the meeting for Federaci�n Centroamericana del Sector C�rnico Bovino (Fecescabo) in Guatemala City. By aligning with Fecescabo, BLPA will enjoy their lobbying and marketing benefits. Beef prices here are almost the same as the rest of Central America. Fecescabo is working to harmonize phyto-sanitary and quality standards for our region. By becoming part of this Central American trading block, BLPA members will enjoy the same privileges. For example, if fellow member Nicagagua contracts to sell to the EU, Belize would be enabled for that as well.
• Seaweed: A Garden's Gift from the Sea: While at the beach several weeks ago, I watched as workers from one of the resorts raked the seaweed along the shoreline back into the sea. The sea, naturally, washed it right back up onto the beach. I knew that seaweed could be beneficial to the garden, so I asked one of the workers to bag me up some and I brought it home for my kitchen garden. I even suggested to him that he could probably make a business harvesting the seaweed and selling it to organic gardeners. He seemed to like that idea and said that many people from his village in the south knew about the benefits of using seaweed in their gardens. And, indeed, for thousands of years, seaweed has been used by coastal farmers in their gardens because it has a full range of properties to enhance the soil and benefit the plants. Seaweed supplies bulk material to condition the soil and it contains approximately 60 trace elements, as well as growth hormones and plant nutrients. It is anti-fungal and helps prevent many plant diseases. Imbalances in the soil, such as nitrogen deficiency, can be fixed by adding seaweed because it can balance the soil's environment so that nitrogen-fixing bacteria are encouraged. The sand and salt in the seaweed contain elements that actually benefit plants, so unless your soil already has a high sodium content there is no need to wash it before placing it around your plants.
• Young Botanists Learn About Plants at Caves Branch: are usually about 80 spikes," explained Marvin, staff member at Caves Branch, to the group of Standard 3 students from Valley of Peace School. He was describing the largest orchid in Caves Branch garden, the Shower of Gold (Oncidium sphacelatom). Incorporating math into their field trip, he asked the students to pick a number between 180 and 220; 211 was the choice. "OK, now, let's estimate how many blossoms this orchid may have this year. Let's multiply 211, the number of flowers each spike can produce, by 83, the approximate number of spikes." Wow! 17,513 blossoms! In the first year, 2011, there were 4,576; each year the number of blossoms has increased. In 2014 there were 13,652. through the activities; so all three groups estimated the number of blossoms. Staff members David and Sayuri taught the students how to take field notes the way botanists do when they find plants in their natural habitat. The students chose a plant and determined its type (epiphyte-grows on trees; lithophyte (grows on rocks; terrestrial (grows in soil), carefully measured the distance from the ground the plant grew, wrote down the exact GPS coordinates, and examined the plant to note its characteristics. Each group took an herbarium with proper instruction for preparing and caring for it.
• Developing the Rice Industry in Belize: Establishing a 'Culture of Rice': Commercial rice production in Belize has a relatively short history. Small farmers in the south produce rice; the larger mechanized Mennonite communities in the north and west produce most of the 21.6M pounds annual consumed in Belize. At a Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture (MNRA) policy meeting in December 2013, the moderator, then IICA Country Representative Dr. Muhammed Ibrahim was asked, "What does Guyana have {regarding rice production} that Belize does not have?" He did not hesitate to reply, "Guyana has a culture of rice." Years of raising a crop will eventually endow a farming populace with a "culture" of that crop. Until that time, the rice producers of Belize are doing their best to progress on that learning curve, while taking all the risks with which the agriculture sector is familiar, and of which the typical consumer is unaware. Look at last year's drought up north, which drastically reduced production up there and created a shortage for the domestic rice market. Prospective importer, Mr. Jack Charles of Extra House Imports, has requested, and been denied by MNRA, a permit to import 500,000 lbs of rice from Guyana. Guyana has had a bumper rice crop, and is doing all she can to export same, even to the point of disrupting a portion of Belize's corn exports for animal feed (corn being replaced with cheap rice in some feeds).
• Organic Produce Available in San Ignacio Market: There is now an easy way for consumers to purchase fresh organic produce at the San Ignacio Open Air Market on Saturday mornings. There is a growing customer base who have been pleased with the system of ordering fruits and vegetables by phone or e-mail and picking up and paying for produce from the SACOGA booth. To order produce for delivery to the San Ignacio Open Air Market on Saturdaym, please send an e-mail to [email protected] or call Abdias Mesh, 674- 8064. Once you are on the customer list, about midweek you will receive a message listing what produce is available and what the prices are. POB and SACOGA meet in the San Ignacio area once or twice a month. Meetings are open to all who want to support organics in Belize. Send a message to Pro-Organic Belize proorganicbelize@ gmail.com or call 677-9658.
• "Earth Day Endorsement for San Antonio, Cayo Organic Growers Association": Pro Organic Belize is pleased to announce the commencement of a formalized agreement between Pro Organic Belize and the farmers known as San Antonio Cayo Organic Growers Association (SACOGA) thus paving the way for full organic certification in the near future. Of special significance is the fact that the agreement occurred on Earth Day which is very appropriate as organic farming uses sustainable practices rather than destructive ones. Essentially this agreement comes from a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) which encompasses both these groups. All members of the PGS participate in an aspect of promoting organic practices, whether it be farming, or education. This agreement is an important step for Pro Organic Belize as a future organic certification body for locally grown and produced organic food in the Cayo District. All over the world the question is, Who's Your Farmer? Pro Organic Belize encourages you to know your farmer, know your food, and know your vendor. Personal relationships based on mutual agreement, and the integrity of those involved lead to a safer food supply for Belize. Pro Organic Belize is committed to a better informed public, and increased food security on a country wide basis.The signing of this agreement brings the nation of Belize one large step forward in the worldwide organic farming movement.
• Sub-surface drip irrigation (SDI) systems have bright future in helping feed growing world population.: Throughout the world currently, only about 6 percent of the land is under drip irrigation. John Vikupitz, president and CEO of Netafim USA, which sells SDI systems says, "This is sort of a bold statement, but we think flood irrigation will become a thing of the past throughout most of the world in the next 50 years. It's simply not a sustainable practice. We have too many people entering the world, too many hungry mouths to feed and not enough clean water to drink. We're undergoing a transformative time here where the convergence of environment, technology and culture are forcing change, and we intend to lead that change. It's not just about producing drip irrigation components; it's about teaching growers how to use them most effectively and how to maximize yields by using the least amount of water, the least amount of fertilizer, using the resources you have most efficiently."
• The Connection Between Central American Farmers and Deadlier Tornadoes in the U.S.: Scientists at the University of Iowa have recently published an article linking smoke from the burning of agricultural fields in Central America to more intense tornadoes in the US. Pablo Saide, post doctoral student at the University of Iowa and a coauthor of the study, said smoke drifting north from the Yucat�n peninsula, which includes parts of Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, changed two key conditions for the 2011 tornadoes. First, it lowered the height of the cloud base, which dropped 650 feet. It also changed the wind shear, which is a variation in vertical wind speed. Both conditions intensify tornadoes. Tornado season in the United States has grown deadlier in recent years, and 2011 was one of the worst, spawning 1,691 twisters. "Even without the smoke drifting up north, there would still have been an unusual number of tornadoes in 2011, but we found the smoke changed the parameters," said Pablo Saide.
• : Local and Regional Fuel Prices
• Agriculture Prices at a Glance- $$$$$: Find local and some international commodity prices on our Agriculture Prices at a Glance section.
• Ag Briefs
• Letters To THE EDITOR

The August 2015 issue of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.
Click HERE to download the PDF

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Issue #30 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!

Homemade Health - Essential Oils
Last summer I had the privilege of staying with a friend who is particularly gifted in the nursing healing arts and complementary therapies. I know a little about aromatherapy but she practices it every day. Her favorite method is to add essential oils to coconut oil (cold-pressed) and use it for massage oil. I found her massage oil to be very helpful for swollen joints, so much so that I became intrigued and decided to learn more. Pure essential oils have been pressed or distilled from the leaves, bark, roots, and other aromatic portions of a plant, yielding highly concentrated compounds. What I didn't realize is that they can be used with therapeutic benefit for a great number of illnesses and diseases. Digging deeper I learned that essential oils are used for not only treatment of stress and anxiety; they are being used with success in the treatment of cancer, pain, and for many other problems. Here are a few significant findings. *"Cancer starts when the DNA code within the cell's nucleus becomes corrupted," says Immunologist Mahmoud Suhail. It seems some essential oils have a re-set function, correcting the DNA code.

To The Editor
Did you know that minimum wage in Mexico is close to 1/3 of minimum wage in Belize? This fact is the key to understanding the challenges that farmers face in Belize. Imported produce grown more cheaply in countries with a lower minimum wage competes unfairly with produce grown locally. Farmers in Belize suffer the same consequence in competition with imports from Mexico. The great appeal of agro-chemical farming is largely due to the savings in labour. Farmers can simply spray rather than pay more workers to do the job by hand. In this way they can somewhat compete in both the world and local market by cutting the cost of production. This is where local organic farmers peel away the endemic veneer of false economy that oppresses growers the world over. The organic farmer uses labour rather than cheap agro-chemicals, which are specifically priced to target and entice farmers according to their local economy, making "agri-business" chemical farming the most economical choice. These chemicals, and the corporations that produce them, most often have their roots in chemical warfare applications from way back in the 1940's. As wartime dissipated in the 1950's and 60's these corporations had to find new applications for their products, and locked on to food production as a more stable market, introducing everything from preservatives to chemical farming applications, and everything in between, in the process of profit. Now we can rarely read a food label that does not contain unpronounceable ingredients about which we have little information, and no education. So how does all this affect our local market here in Belize? Belizean farmers must compete directly with the cost of Mexican imported produce, which is generally as much as 70% cheaper, and represents approximately 50% or more of the fresh fruit and vegetables in the fresh food open air markets in Belize.

Stormy Weather
Where were you late afternoon on 28 September? Do you know the reason for that tremendous thunder storm that dumped 55 mm (over 2 inches) of rain in just 45 minutes around Belmopan? Don Thompson's Weather Analysis web site, www.weathertricity.blogspot.com, explains that the earth was hit by an intense burst of radiation from the sun. Belize was on the outer edge of this strike. The graphic on his web site shows the extent of the hit; South America was hit the hardest although it extended west to Africa and north to the Caribbean. He further explained, "There was a high pressure ridge down the east coast of the Yucatan into Central America. It looks like a line of cells got trapped under the ridge. The one over northern Belize at 5PM local, suddenly exploded and within minutes became a violent thunderstorm directly over Belmopan. The city power was interrupted 3 times. By 8 PM the whole storm system was gone.

Young Grove Management Under Huanglongbing (HLB) Scenario In Belize
The challenge facing citrus growers today is how to bring into production young citrus trees under the heavy infestation of Huanglongbing (HLB) and Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). As infected orchards become unproductive, the decision to replace them with new ones is challenging. It is now six years since HLB was detected in Belize and there is an accumulated experience with the disease. The following are important guide lines on how to protect the new groves and minimize the infection rate with HLB. The first priority for citrus growers is to join the coordinated Area-wide Integrated Management System (AIMS) to suppress the Asian citrus psyllid population. A combined effort by everyone is more effective than individual control at the farm level. Participating in AIMS ensures the use of selected insecticides which are applied in March/April and October/November within a three week interval by all citrus growers to suppress the population of the psyllid throughout the industry. This will help to reduce the psyllid population to a low level and in the long term will allow new plantings to come into production and thus maintain low incidence of HLB. The second guideline is high density plantings: a higher number of plants per acre in the first four years. This will contribute significantly to early accumulated yields, reduce the time for recovery of investment and reduce the rate of infection.

Corn That Says "No" To GMO
In the modern world where large agriculture companies are gaining ground with GM (genetically modified) corn seeds, non-GM growers have been in an increasingly difficult situation from GM pollen drift. This pollen can drift over four miles in the wind and once it lands in a non-GM field, that corn becomes tainted with the GM variety. Once contaminated, the farmer typically gets a lower price, and for specialty food grade and organic corn the price can be as little as half what it would have been. However, one bright spot is that a few plant breeders have found a way to develop non-GM corn varieties that "say no" to the GM pollen when it comes blowing its way. Blue River Hybrids in Ames, Iowa U.S.A., is the leading company that offers this type of seed, known as PuraMaize, for Midwest U.S. farmers. Blue River describes PuraMaize as a natural gene system which impedes pollination from GMO traited and blue corn pollen. It is naturally bred into Blue River corn hybrids, giving organic farmers a powerful tool to combat contamination from neighboring fields. Corn hybrids that contain the PuraMaize gene complex have the ability to recognize and favor pollen that also contains the PuraMaize gene complex. During pollination, the pollen grains move down the silk channel trying to fertilize the potential kernel. A PuraMaize corn plant will quickly accept like pollen from other PuraMaize plants and slow the pollen of a foreign plant, like GMO or blue corn. The foreign pollen can't win the race down the silk channel and is unable to contaminate the PuraMaize plant.

Energetic Agriculture - Pesticides & Healthy Crops
Late last year a farmer from Blue Creek in Orange Walk asked me how to effectively deal with aphids and mites in his crops. This was a hard question to answer. It took me several months of research to find the answer. The answer is so simple it spins the mind. I knew part of the problem, but not the entire solution. From my previous research and 3 years of experiments, nutrition appeared to be part of the cause of this pest problem for farmers. I had also known that nitrogen was also part of the problem. Nitrogen in two forms is used in agriculture - ammonia and nitrate depending upon the stage of growth of the plant. All plants need nitrogen for their development but a major problem in agriculture is the mind-set of farmers. If a crop needs say 100 lbs./acre of ammonia, most farmers will put more than 100 lbs. because they believe that more is better. Biology, chemistry and physics are precise. Nitrogen should not be needed in quantities of more than 40 lbs./acre for corn crops in Belize if the other minerals are in balance.

Soil Inoculants - Nutrient Uptake, Water Use, Disease Resistance
Understanding soil biology is important for keeping agricultural systems healthy and productive. Living soil is complex and includes creatures that cannot be seen with the naked eye, such as bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, protozoa and nematodes, as well as familiar creatures such as insects and earthworms. One teaspoon of a healthy soil can contain billions of bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms. This community of organisms is bound together in a food web that affects the chemical and physical properties of soils. We care about these properties because they also affect plant growth and health. Practices such as adding manures or composts to soil, planting cover crops and rotating crops are all aimed at rebuilding and maintaining soil organic matter, recycling and retaining nutrients, and controlling soil disease and pest levels. These practices are usually associated with increased beneficial soil microbial diversity and abundance. While there are examples of soil inoculants that successfully improve plant growth and crop yields (Table 1), their commercial production and use are still in their infancy. The success of a particular inoculant depends on direct and indirect effects on the desired plant species and interactions of the inoculants with the entire exiting soil biota land. Variation in soil physical and chemical properties, such as texture and acidity, also affect the success of inoculants.

Beyond The Backyard - Tropical Pioneers
Two trees that could be confused at a distance and have a lot in common are the trumpet tree and the balsa tree. Both arrived in my garden uninvited but the more I study them my respect increases.They are both fast growing indigenous jungle plants that play a very important role in the eco system. Cecropia named after the mythical first king of Athens Cecrops may have about 25 species in Belize of the family Urticaceae. Perhaps the most common is Cecropia peltata called the umbrella tree, embauba, trumpet tree, guarmo, yarumo and kooche as it is everywhere you look. It has been a seriously studied jungle weed due to its interdependency with biting Azteca ants who colonize its hollow stalks and feed exclusively on the muellerian food it provides. In Central America the leaves are also important food to howler monkeys, tapir, deer, sloths, birds,and bats plus a nesting place for chachalacas and an egg depository for the Cecropian Orion or stinking leaf wing butterfly. When the leaves are salted cattle will eat with gusto.

Why Sulfur?
Although elements, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, usually referred to as NPK, are the major considerations for fertile soil by farmers, sulfur should be considered the fourth major nutrient in terms of the amount required. Most crops use between 40 to 90% as much sulfur as phosphate. Corn, sorghum and rice use around 35% as much sulfur as phosphate; citrus and sugarcane, about 50%, but cabbage and onions, 90 to 110%. There is a difference between sulfur and sulfate. Sulfur is an element, S; sulfate is sulfur combined with oxygen, SO4. When you compare phosphate, P2O5, with sulfur you should use the sulfate form of the element to obtain an accurate comparison. Although soils are tested for the elements, it is the sulfate form broken down in the soil that the plant uses. And the higher the phosphate level the more sulfur is needed because phosphate is more stable than sulfate in soil; it doesn't leach away as sulfate does and is more readily absorbed.

The Soils Of Belize By District/Region - The Belize District - East To West
My last article introduced the soils of the Belize District along and from the sea coast. This article is a further exploration of these soils extending westwards into the Cayo District as these soils are related to the course of the main agents of formation, the southern Belize and Sibun Rivers. We go from swamps to elevations of about 200 ft that have been formed by the Belize River in the north and the Sibun River, including the Caves Branch tributary, in the south. A major characteristic is the presence of relatively large and minor lagoons, creeks and streams. As the elevation rises the containing lowland pine ridge gives way to broken ridges interspersed with areas of broadleaf forest on undulating lands going to the west. Phosphorous is generally deficient. These soils of the lower Belize River Valley, on the eastern seaboard, are mangrove swamps and do not have a true coastline. The soils are mucky and in many areas are impacted by a high water table that has saline intrusions.

Both Soils & Crops Need Boron
More often than not, the soils we receive to be analyzed for growing all types of crops are deficient in several micronutrients, but the one that requires constant vigilance to assure the greatest success is boron. Like nitrogen and sulfur, boron can be leached from the soil. So just as is true concerning sulfur, it is necessary to test for boron content and generally expect it to be required to correct the soil accordingly from year to year. Although it should be, boron is not usually considered as a necessary addition for growing most crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, vegetables and even pasture. Without adequate boron more nitrogen is needed in order to produce the same amount of growth. Consequently, it needs to be present in sufficient amounts as plants begin to grow and throughout the growing season. Apply boron to your land based on need as established by a reliable soil test, not by guessing whether it is or is not needed.

The Tropic Rice Part Of "Rice And Beans"
The seeds of the rice plant are the grain that we eat in our rice and beans meal. Like most grains, the seeds have to be threshed to remove the hulls. In the old days this was done by swathing or bundling the stalks together and beating them in troughs manually. But not in Spanish Lookout where Tropic Rice uses the latest technology to mill rice. Paddy rice, as the grain coming to the mill is called, has to have only 12 - 13% moisture for milling. Sample paddy rice is tested for moisture and quality; the price to the farmer depends on both. The first stop in the mill is a holding bin. The rice is unloaded and from there it goes through a pre-cleaner, and then to a paddy husker where the rice husks are removed and discarded. Next is the paddy separator, which removes the kernels that didn't husk from the brown rice. Rice to be made into white rice then goes through an abrasive whitener that removes the bran from off the kernel, after which it enters the polisher where the rice is brought to its natural whiteness using clean water and gently rubbing the kernels. Brown rice bypasses the whitening and polishing processes.

Silicon's Role In Rice Production
Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element of the Earth's crust after oxygen. It has long been neglected by ecologists, as it is not considered an essential nutrient for plants. However, research in recent years shows that it is beneficial for the growth of many plants, including important crops such as rice, wheat and barley. For instance, Si enhanced the resistance against pests, pathogens and abiotic stresses such as salts, drought and storms. Silicon might, thus, play a crucial role in the development of sustainable rice production systems with lower or zero input of harmful pesticides. Researchers from the interdisciplinary LEGATO project on sustainable rice production looked in more detail at the cycle of plant-available Si in contrasting regions of Vietnam and the Philippines to provide insights on the importance of this element in rice production.

Bird Watch - From My Perch
Chiquibul Adventures - Watershed Awareness, Solitaire Canyon River Expedition. With the aim of further exploring and understanding the Chiquibul National Park, the Friends for Conservation and Development (FCD) and Mountain Equestrian Trails (MET) completed another exploratory expedition on an un-explored river in the western jungles of the park during the month of August. Jim Bevis shares the essence of the team's experience: We entered the crystal clear river with inflatable kayaks at a remote location on the western base of the Maya Mountain Massif. The purpose of the expedition was to explore the downstream and photograph points of interest in the 14 miles stretch for a period of five days. Soon after casting off from the north side of the river, we entered a rugged and beautiful steep walled limestone canyon, where in places the swift and turbulent floodwaters of many millennia had cut deep and smooth into the polished limestone walls. The upper part of this river was somewhat shallow in places and much of the first day was spent dragging our kayaks through and over basketball-sized "boulder gardens" to the next pool of deep water.

Reminiscing With Joe Friesen Sr., Cattleman Par Excellence
Of all the families who moved to Belize from Chihuahua, Mexico in 1958 one of the largest families was the Peter Friesen family. Joe, who is the second oldest of 11 children was 6 years old when his family moved from Manitoba, Canada to Mexico and 16 when they moved to Spanish Lookout.As a pioneer in the developing country Joe's father, Peter Friesen,did lathe work and made his own machinery for whatever he needed. They settled in Spanish Lookout on lands along the Belize River. At the time, it was in bush with many cohune trees and much bamboo. Rather than bring cattle from the 7,000 ft elevation area they left in Mexico, they purchased Brahman-type cattle from local sources, such as Eduardo Juan, Trinidad Juan, Negroman {Ranch} and the Delafuentes. Beginning in 1964, Joe began marketing cattle, a trade he would carry on for over 40 years until 2004, when he would turn things over to his sons. In the mid 60's, Joe sold 2 head per week, from his farm and from others in Spanish Lookout, for which the farmers received 11 cents/lb live wt for good cows, and 14 cents/lb live wt for the best steers - all local type Brahman.

What Do ppm & ppb Quantities Really Mean?
Descriptions of minute quantities, parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb), can be difficult to grasp. How can we practically relate to one part per million or one part per billion? One ppm is one part per 1,000,000, equivalent to one drop of substance diluted into 50 liters. In an analogy to time, one ppm is equivalent to 32 seconds of one year. One ppb is one part per 1,000,000,000, equivalent to one drop of substance diluted into 250 fifty-five gallon (200 l) drums - that is one drop into 13,750 gallons! In time, that would be 3 seconds out of a century. Many common synthetic-based pesticides' Maximum Contamination Levels (MCL) are figured in single digits of parts per billion, ppb, which hints at their intense toxicities. Synthetic poisons are much more concentrated than "botanical" poisons (those derived from natural botanical substances). Charles Walters points out: "� it would take a tractor-trailer load of botanicals to disturb, say, a water main, whereas a quart of Paraquat would do maximum damage."

The Southern Pine Beetle Is Speaking To Us!
You would think that as an environmental advisor to the United Nations I would be a better steward of our planet, but alas I grew up in Texas where tree huggers are hard to find and in only the past ten years have I lightened my footprint on the world. No matter where you stand on global warming, you have to admit the planet is heating up. Whether this is a cycle in our globe's very long history, which has become very warm and very cold many times, or this is the last big heat up created by man's ignorance to his surroundings, I will leave to each of our readers. I will probably get a sigh of relief from many of you when I tell you this article is not about melting glaciers, but something much smaller�..The Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) (Dendroctonus frontalis). Dark brown to black in color, and approximately 1/8th inch long with a unique rounded rear end, the SPB belongs to the largest order of insects, Coleoptera, and family Scolytidae. It has a life cycle of 35-60 days; that's six generations per year capability and has increased with the temperature. In natural forest situations, pine beetles prepare the way for ecological succession by selectively removing mature, stressed or damaged pines. Consequently pine beetle infestations often begin on damaged trees, but the beetles quickly reproduce and move to other surrounding trees. As beetles bore into bark, the tree tries to protect itself by exuding pitch, resulting in the formation of characteristic pitch tubes. Weakened trees may not be able to produce sufficient pitch flow to prevent colonization and when beetle populations are high, the number of beetles attacking trees may be so large that even healthy trees cannot withstand infestation.

Lemon Grass
The typical variety of lemon grass grown in Belize, Cymbopogan citratus, is commonly known as "fever grass" as a traditional remedy to reduce and alleviate symptoms of fever. Lemon grass is a perennial plant that grows in large clusters of long thin green leaves and produces a pleasant lemony, citrus aroma when crushed. It has a slightly pungent, but delicate lemony flavor with undertones of mint and ginger to season food, especially tea, soups, curries and salads. Stalks and bulbs of the plant are commonly used as an ingredient in Asian and Indian cuisine. As a gardening aid in tropical gardens it is used as a companion plant. Many Belizeans have lemon grass plants growing as an attractive decorative and useful plant in their home gardens. There are more than fifty varieties of lemon grass; not all are used for culinary, medicinal or agricultural purposes. Lemon grass is indigenous to India and tropical regions of the Asian continent, including Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. It is also commonly grown and used in Central America, Java, Madagascar, China, West Indian islands and Zambia and other warm tropical climates. It grows year-round in all tropical countries and can successfully be grown indoors in cold climates. Mature plants resemble common field or "cattle grass" and generally grow from about two to four feet in height. Plants do not flower or produce seeds; they are propagated with portions of the root of the plant. Once established, lemon grass usually grows wild via underground rhizomes. It is an easy plant to grow and requires little care beyond a sunny location and watering in the dry season.

Dairy Products At Home: Mozzarella & Ricotta Cheese
The cheeses for this cheese-making workshop are mozzarella and ricotta. These are cheeses presumably invented in Italy but now prized all over the world, the second being a byproduct of the first. Mozzarella is the gooey topping for lasagna, pizza, and other Italian dishes which everyone likes so much. Here in Central America, mozzarella makes itself at home on enchiladas or quesadillas, with its famous melting quality. It's not easy to fit into a new culture, but if we were all so friendly and likable, sacrificing ourselves for the benefit of others, it would be much easier, more like� melted cheese. Here is a simplified recipe which has evolved in my kitchen through the natural selection of shortcuts inherent to that environment. Recipes generally call to acidify sweet milk with citric acid, but milk that is naturally sour needs no acidification, so I just use a blend of sweet and sour milk. It may be whole or skimmed, or some of each. To make hard cheeses, you will need rennet, which can be purchased in liquid form from Western Dairies in Spanish Lookout. To make it easier to measure small amounts, I put mine in a dropper bottle. You need � tsp to 4 gallons of milk, or 6 drops to a gallon. Stir in the rennet and let the milk set. In less than an hour, your milk will curdle, or become a solid rather than a liquid. The curd is ready to cut when you can cut into it with a knife and it makes a 'clean break', being of cutting rather than pudding consistency.

World Food Day At Mopan Technical High School In Benque Viejo
World Food Day was organized in 1979 and promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to combat poverty and eradicate hunger world-wide; it is now observed in almost every country of the world. October 16, 2015 was the date of forums held and attended by millions of people around the globe. Belize held the event one week later on October 23, 2015. The theme of the 2015 World Food Day was: "Soil Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty". Mopan Technical High School provided the venue and it was a showcase for the teachers and students of the school who provided tours of their healthy gardens and gave vibrant seedling plants to all who visited their booth.

Pro-Organic Belize On The Grow!
The seeds for Pro-Organic Belize (POB) group were planted at a symposium "Sourcing Healthy Food in Cayo" which was held at Maya Mountain Lodge in November 2014. Following this well-attended event, POB paired up with the San Antonio Cayo Organic Growers Association (SACOGA) to cultivate a growing relationship with the goal of having organic produce for sale at the San Ignacio open air market on Saturday mornings starting in December 2014. SACOGA now has a permanent booth at the market, run by Abdias Mesh, the founder and director of SACOGA and takes orders for fresh organic produce each week for pick-up on Saturday morning (see ad below). POB and SACOGA have developed a participatory guarantee system (PGS) of organic certification which is based on that of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM). The mission statement of POB is "To support and promote the San Antonio Cayo Organic Growers Association and other organic initiatives in Belize."

Ag Briefs
Neal Kinsey will return to Belize to again deliver his Introductory Soil Fertility Course on February 8th, 9th ,10th, 2016 at UB Central Farm. There may be a soybean field day after the course. Second Annual Christmas Plant Sale to benefit the Belmopan Humane Society. Saturday December 5 -Blue Moon Restaurant @the roundabout in Bmp. 10am-4pm. For Sale: plants & cuttings, poinsettias, palm trees, Christmas decor. Enter the raffle to win a completely decorated tree ready to plug in and light up your home or business! Worms that eat styrofoam: A Beihang University professor and his doctoral student, and a Stanford University professor co-authored a study, just published in Environmental Science and Technology, showing that mealworms, the larval form of the darkling beetle, can digest Styrofoam and produce a biodegradable waste. What do you do when the supply of bananas exceeds the demand and the price to the grower gets reduced too low to pay laborers in the harvest period? Look for alternative ways to industrialize the raw material! How about banana flour? The initiative to produce banana flour is still in its experimental stage in Paraguay.

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Issue #31 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.

To The Editor
Dear Editor, My understanding of the recent evolution or revolution in agriculture in terms of crop selection and production methods is that since the beginning of the 20th century they have become almost entirely dependent on the use of non-sustainable methods and materials while nutritional quality has decreased. Generally, significant changes began occurring with the introduction of mechanized farm machinery and the wide spread use of synthetic fertilizers, especially nitrogen, during the first green revolution. The next readily recognizable phase included the introduction of a vast array of synthetic compounds designed to control animal, plant and microbial pests or conversely to alter the physiology of crops to suit marketing and consumer demands. Moving ahead to the present decade, the most significant change in agriculture is the widespread use of genetically engineered or modified organisms.

MNRA Horticulture Center Vegetable Research and Demonstration
The Horticulture Demonstration and Training Center was established by the Republic of China - Taiwan TechnicalMission in the late 90's and then transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture in 2012. The horticulture program is now a part of the Crop Research and Development Unit at the Research, Development and Innovation Center in Central Farm, Cayo District. The program is primarily involved in the evaluation, demonstration and training of open field vegetable and exotic fruit tree production.The Ministry of Agriculture annual work plan is developed in accordance with the National Agriculture and Food Policy of Belize - 2015 to 2030 which has as the main objective "to provide an environment that is conducive to increasing production and productivity, promoting investment, and encouraging private sector involvement in agribusiness enterprises in a manner that ensures competitiveness, quality production, trade and sustainability".

Green Bananas - A Neglected Food
Next time you visit the market put some green bananas in your basket. This amazing but neglected food is the cheapest and tastiest starch source around. Green bananas used to be commonly eaten in Belize: boiled, fried or part of stews. Green bananas contain as many minerals, especially potassium and magnesium, vitamins and fibre as the ripe fruit. The current price is around 3lbs (8-10 fingers) for $1.00, cheaper than plantains and potatoes and having more flavor. Much of this fruit is thrown away as rejects yet is available for only the cost of transportation. Our culinary artists and home cooks should take a second look at this food apart from the "boil-up" where it is most commonly seen.

High Density Planting In Orange Groves For Belize
Plagued with the dreaded Huanglongbing (HLB) formerly known as Citrus Greening, we must venture into unconventional production methods to increase yields. High density planting has been the norm in many citrus producing countries including Brazil and the Unites States (Florida and Texas). High density planting is the production of citrus with more trees per acre than the conventional number. In Belize, the conventional planting spacing is 15 feet in rows and 25 feet between rows which totals 116 trees per acre. Before venturing into high density planting, several important factors must be considered: the types of rootstocks and scions to be used, soil type, yield performance, nutritional demand of the rootstocks and spacing.

Trapping the Mischievous Palm Weevil to Prevent Red Ring Disease in Your Coconut Grove
In the last issue of the Belize Ag Report (issue # 29 pg 37) Forrest Tackitt wrote about Red Ring Disease in coconuts. The vector for this disease which affects coconut and African oil palms, with up to 80% mortality, is the palm weevil (Rynchophoruspalmarum). This large red snout beetle is native all the way from Mexico through South America and resides in some parts of the Caribbean as well. The nematode (Bursaphelenchus cocophilus) which is the direct cause of Red Ring Disease, is carried in the gut of this palm weevil. San Miguel learned a successful technique to trap this beetle vector from the staff of Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agricolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. INIFAP is the research arm of Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture (SAGARPA).

Beekeeping in Belize Cayo Quality Honey Producers Cooperative
The first beekeepers in Belize were the ancient Maya. They kept stingless bees, Melipona beecheii, in hives made from hollowed out logs. The entrance hole was made midway between the two ends and the ends were sealed with clay. Honey was harvested one to three times a year: in March, April and in a good year, in December as well. Large apiaries existed in Corozal, Orange Walk and Cayo and honey was one of the chief exports of the Maya state of Chactumal in northern Belize. Beekeeping with stingless bees continued until the mid 20th century but today only a few hives remain and the population of wild stingless bees is threatened by development. Beekeeping with Apismelifera began in the Corozal District in 1957 when Tony Espat and Hernan Urbina brought beekeepers from the Yucatan. Several colonies were established at Central Farm as well, but these soon died due to a lack of knowledge in beekeeping. By December 1958 there were 958 colonies in Corozal and Orange Walk Districts and fifteen drums of honey were exported that year.

Beyond The Backyard - A Leaf From My Recipe Book
Eating from the wild can create an unexpected culinary masterpiece or become a recipe for disaster. It is important to have sufficient information. Knowing something to be edible is not enough to prevent you from harm. Knowledge of content and preparation is essential. My daughter-in-law decorated our dinner plates with the wonderful heart shaped leaves of the taro plant commonly called elephant ears placed under some delicious stewed chicken. Whilst scooping up the juices my son popped the leaf in his mouth chewed it up and moments later was gasping for water and on the verge of a trip to the emergency room even though that would have meant thirty miles of rough roads at night. These plants have saponins that instantly inflame the mouth and throat causing chronic itching. He survived the experience and a lesson was learned.

Watershed Management: A Tool for Sustainable Development
As the population of Belize continues to grow the demand for use of the natural resources will continue to rise. Human beings are completely dependent on the environment for survival. The land produces the food we eat, the forests provide the water we drink and the shelter we need. It is an unending struggle to balance economic development with the protection of the environment, also known as sustainable development. In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." It is not an end but rather a process for meeting human development goals while maintaining the ability of the earth's natural systems to provide in perpetuity, the natural resources and ecosystem services upon which the economy and society depend.

Soils of Belize - The Southern Cayo and Stann Creek Districts
My last article left us on the limestone foothills of the Cayo District with its lower alluvial areas created by the Belize River. The southern flank of the George Price Highway is a karst (limestone based) landscape with many limestone hills starting to give way to granitic hills and mountains further south. Further east, to the coast, we begin to see deposits of granitic sand and the first occurrence of a true coastline with sandy beaches that extend down to the Placencia Peninsula. My last article left us on the limestone foothills of the Cayo District with its lower alluvial areas created by the Belize River. The southern flank of the George Price Highway is a karst (limestone based) landscape with many limestone hills starting to give way to granitic hills and mountains further south. Further east, to the coast, we begin to see deposits of granitic sand and the first occurrence of a true coastline with sandy beaches that extend down to the Placencia Peninsula.

BEL-CAR Updates - Changing Times Invite Changes to the Belize Commodity Market
After a less than normal corn harvest caused by the summer drought (see national loss estimates in Ag Briefs, pg, Bel-Car reports that corn inventories are still more than adequate for domestic needs, although leaving little export surplus. Several farmers then planned to plant during the fall, normally a bean-planting time. However, the overabundant fall rains prevented many from following through on that plan. Due to the long-lasting rains most had to revert to the normal beans winter cycle, as they have a shorter growing period than corn. Quite a bit of RK beans and BE (black eye) peas are in the fields now. Last year was a record bean crop, with high acreages and high yields. Belize exported twice the amount of beans in 2015 than in 2014. About 50 containers (50k lbs per) remain. There is a challenge to find new markets, as price decreases faster than quality.

Waste Management in Belize
Our Mayan Mountains are a beautiful sight to behold, but if we are not careful we will have other mountains made out of waste material. Are you aware of the "mountains" of plastic floating in the Gulf of Mexico? Last estimates compare it to the size of Texas (30 times the size of Belize), and there is one in the Pacific that is twice that size. I admit that I am terrible at recycling; I burn my garbage, and, yes, that sometimes includes plastic, but it is time for a change. If all of us in Belize concentrate on recycling only the easiest items, paper, plastic, glass and aluminium, we would help keep our country clean and have a tremendous effect on our planet at the same time. I was clueless about recycling facilities in Belize until my last trip to Xunantunich; I almost ran off the road looking at that big Solid Waste sign along George Price Highway. Now, after my first transfer station experience, and a meeting with Mr. Emmerson Garcia at the Waste Management Office, I am much better informed and wish to share this information, and encourage you into some much needed recycling and possibly a good house cleaning.

Magnesium, an Essential Nutrient for Better Soil Fertility
There are some important foundational principles for understanding and utilizing magnesium to achieve excellent soil fertility. It is important to correctly use this nutrient in terms of soil fertility for the most positive effect on crops and the greatest benefit to the soil where those plants will be grown. The overall concept hearkens back to the definition in agronomy textbooks concerning what makes up an ideal soil. That ideal soil is described as 25% air, 25% water, 45% mineral and 5% organic matter. Most soils fall short of the ideal in some way. Clay soils are generally too tight, and due to a lack of calcium (which can be true even on high pH soils), they contain inadequate pore space resulting in too much water and not enough air for the ideal soil environment. Such soils tend to stay wet longer and become harder to work as they dry out. Sandy soils tend to have the opposite problem - too much air and not enough water - but they will still pack down and become hard when worked too wet, especially so when magnesium levels are excessive.

BLPA News
Ever wonder how much longer the Cattle Sweep has to go before Belize can be declared free of tuberculosis? Here's your answer: the cattle industry still has 2 long years to go before being declared free of tuberculosis. If you raise cattle you have seen teams visit your farm and get blood samples to see if your cattle are free from disease, especially tuberculosis and brucellosis, 2 of the most common diseases in cattle (that can even affect humans once contracted). Why is it important to test? Without testing of animals Belize cannot declare the country free of disease which means we cannot export to any other country. What happens if you don't test? It means that you put your cattle and the rest of the country's animals at risk and you can also be fined by relevant authorities for not complying.

Sam Vigue Discusses Low Input Farming with Pro-Organic Belize
Sam Vigue is an American agronomist who works as a seed research specialist in Austin, Texas. He visited Belize in 2015 and returned in 2016. During the latter visit, he attended Pro-Organic Belize's January meeting to discuss seeds and low input farming principles. Sam defines low input farming as using better farming systems, wherein a farmer is less reliant on external inputs for planting, growing or harvesting crops. He claims that when seeking self-sufficiency in farming, it all starts with seeds and soil. Healthy soil works like preventative medicine. Having all the nutrients is key. Foliar fertilizer, in his view, will not work as well as maintaining the soil as a storehouse of nutrients for the plant. One of the best ways to get those into the soil, is using compost. Then the nutrients need to be available to the roots so they reach the plant from the soil.

Saving Heritage Seeds in Belize - David Johansen's Seed Garden and Vault
Since age twelve David Johansen has had an avid interest in seeds and farming; he has lived and farmed in Colorado, Utah, Missouri, and California. Having traveled widely in Belize and Central America to procure hardy, tolerant seeds adapted to the challenging growing conditions in Belize, David developed his 35 acre farm and seed bank over the past eight years in the Spanish Lookout area with great success. He has many crops growing abundantly to full maturity in order for him to harvest seeds to sell locally and fulfill orders for Belizean grown seeds from US seed companies. In order to preserve the seeds in cool temperature, low humidity conditions, David designed and constructed a climate-controlled underground depository cement vault which can store hundreds of jars of seeds. His seeds have been meticulously catalogued. Keeping seeds beneath the earth helps to keep the seeds viable for sprouting. David is working on a dehumidification system to ensure the proper dryness.

Dairy Products At Home - Hard Cheeses
In the final installment of our dairy workshop, we look at hard cheese, which is made using rennet as a coagulant. The title of this article is "Hard Cheeses" because all the hard cheeses in your urban deli are made in basically the same way, with only slight variations of temperature, time lapses, or aging times. Unique varieties have developed in various parts of the world due to the unique bacteria and climatic conditions in each place. You can try to reproduce cheese by ordering freeze dried bacteria from a catalog, or you can develop your own cheese unique to your locale - or rather cheeses, for each one will have its own unique "personality". The first rule of cheese making should be this: There is no such thing as a flop; there are only new types of cheese. If you followed my mozzarella procedure in the last issue, you have a good start at making rennet cheese. Start with sweet milk (slightly sour also works), adding 1⁄4 tsp of liquid rennet to 4 gallons of milk, or 6 drops per gallon. Use clean, stainless steel containers and utensils to lessen the chance of strange bacteria entering it.

Surviving Climate Change
Climate change is the biggest challenge to agriculture in the twenty-first century. The past year 2015 was the hottest year in recorded modern history. Whether you agree that this elevation in temperature is man-assisted or a natural phenomenon, it is a fact to be understood and dealt with for long term agricultural production. For small farmers to survive climate change, methods of farming must be adjusted to reduce crop loss and ensure profitability at harvest. Small farmers have an advantage in adapting to the changing weather patterns. This is good news as 84% of the world's food production comes from small farmers cultivating less than 5 acres. Modern day climate change challenging the small farmer is characterized by massive flooding (too much water), extensive droughts (no water), accompanied by widespread fires (in many places though not Belize at this time) resulting in unpredictable and incomprehensible changing weather patterns.

Life Everlasting Plant
The succulent herb Kalanchoe pinnatum, sometimes called Bryophyllum pinnatum, has many common names: life everlasting, miracle leaf, cathedral bells, wonder plant, never die, leaf of life, sprouting leaf, resurrection plant, mother of millions, and many other names. It is a member of the Crassulaceae plant family. Native to Madagascar, it grows prolifically in Belize and other tropical regions of the world. The plant grows easily and although it is valued as an ornamental garden plant, it is considered an invasive species in some areas. Life everlasting is believed to be a panacea for many ailments. It is rich in over two dozen healing chemical compounds, including, alkaloids, triterpenes, glycosides, flavonoids, steroids, and lipids. Life everlasting plants are perennial and grow to be about three to five feet in height with fleshy green leaves from two to four inches long which may be tinged with pinkish to purple on the scalloped outer leaves. Plants produce clusters of showy hollow tubular flowers, about one inch long on tall panicles with a pale pinkish to purple tinge at the base of each blossom.

Pro-Organic Belize Seeks Pesticide Residue Tests for Local Produce, Visits BAHA's Chemical Analysis Laboratory
On 25 January 2016, a group from Cayo's Pro-Organic Belize visited Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) Central Investigation Laboratory (CIL) in Belize City. We met with Laboratory Administrator/Deputy Director of Food Safety Dr. Natalie Gibson and her head chemist for the Chemical Analysis Laboratory (CAL) to tour the recently renovated laboratory facility and discuss the pesticide testing capabilities of their laboratory for both public and private needs. The CAL is located in the BAHA complex located on St. Joseph Street in Belize City, with the sample storage and preparation rooms separated from the sample analysis rooms. Sample processing will be greatly improved by the acquisition of two new processing machines. The sample analysis rooms contain several gas chromatographs, heavy metal analysis equipment, supplies and computers. This equipment is capable of detecting quantitative amounts (in parts per million or ppm) of specific molecules used to identify specific pesticides.

Planting & Harvesting Beans - The Mayan Way
Beans have always been a staple for the Mayas. They have a large variety of beans: Boloc' che, Tzama (red & black) variety, Xchalaatbu-ul, Xme-hen bu-ul, and Xpascuabu-ul. They eat beans almost daily with rice and tortillas. Their diet is also complemented with cowpeas which are planted during the months of June and July to be eaten starting in late October for the observance of All Saints Day or Finados. Local lima beans are also cultivated for the preparation of the special Mayan dish called Xtoc sel. Many of the Mayan beans are large with a thicker skin and have much more "bean" pulp than the typical black or red beans grown in Belize. (See issue 15, page 18 of the Belize Ag Report for a more complete description of Mayan beans.) If you want to grow and harvest beans the way the Mayas did and many still do, here's what you should know:

Mopan Technical and Vocational High School Agriculture Program
Mopan Technical and Vocational High School in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo District, the agriculture science program offers students sound practical hands-on courses designed to prepare students for a career in agriculture. In addition to animal husbandry skills, the program focuses on teaching students how to manage soil and organic matter, sow seeds, tend plants and harvest in the fields and in green houses. The program also includes courses in the sciences and finances, complementing the field work, to round out skills needed to successfully manage a farm or teach agriculture. In order to graduate, students must pass the Caribbean Examinations Council (CEC) Agriculture Science exam. Mr. Francisco Tun, principal of the high school has a commitment to prepare students for careers in agriculture which will help support food security in Belize. The agriculture program is managed by Mr. Kendall Mendez, who has been instrumental in the development and success of the vocational agriculture department of the school for over thirty years.

Ask Rubber Boots
After a long hibernation, Rubber Boots returns with a few suggestions for bio-friendly plagacides (new word for pest controls). Do pesky drunken baymen (Trigona, the largest genus of sting-less bees) gather around your hummingbird feeder? Try a few dabs of coconut oil on the feeder and see the drunken baymen disperse. Fruit flies (drysophila) in your kitchen? Put a few small dishes with a small amount of real vanilla extract out; that is what commercial produce departments of grocery stores do (or used to do in the days of yore) to encourage them to simply go away. Bugs eating your beans? Sometimes this is a sign of low magnesium. Try spraying with epsom salts, 1 Tbs per gallon (5 lbs per acre). Even if your soil has good Mg Levels, it may be 'tied up' and unavailable to the plants (Thank you, Neal Kinsey).

Ag Briefs
In a December 2015 session of the National Assembly of Venezuela, what has been called "one of the most progressive seed laws in the world" was passed, and soon after signed into law by outgoing President Nicolas Maduro. This very comprehensive piece of legislation is not only anti-GMO, but anti-patenting of seeds too. The law also regulates the production of hybrid seed, rejects the production, distribution and importation of GMO seed, and bans transgenic (GMO/GE) seed research in the country. At least one grower in Belize has been producing Sea Island Cotton in Northern Belize for several years, for buyers in Japan. In recognition that Belize has the capacity to produce very high quality cotton for export, Japan made a grant of $102,029.00USD in mid-February to the cotton industry in Belize.

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Issue #32 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.
Click HERE to download the PDF

Deforestation in Belize: Why Does the Agriculture Sector Need Standing Forests?
Belize has lost more than 770,000 acres of forest since 1980, which is almost equivalent to the area of the entire Belize District. According to a report published by CATHALAC (Spanish acronym for Humid Tropics Water Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean, based in Panama), between 1980 and 2010 approximately 25,000 acres (more than 7 times the area of Belize City) of forests were cleared every year in Belize. According to another study produced by Belizean expert Emil Cherrington, in 2013, 33,000 acres of forest were lost in the Jewel, and in 2014 that number rose to 36,000 acres, which shows an increase in the deforestation rate. That trend has continued during the last 2years. CATHALAC and University of�

To the Editor
Dear Editor, We felt to express our deep appreciation that Belize has not been accepting genetically modified (GMO) crops into the country. We understand that through modern biotechnology, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are being created that may use animal, virus, or bacteria genes to alter DNA or genetic material in vegetables and other things. These alterations are impossible to achieve from natural pollination or crop breeding, and must be produced in sophisticated genetic laboratories. The resulting "organisms" are then patentable property of the large corporations creating them. Someone has coined a thought provoking an alternative term for GMO: "God move over". In other words, do humans consider themselves wiser than our all-wise omnipotent Creator? Are human beings better able and�

Green Banana Recipe Competition
Green Banana Recipe Winners! In our February Belize Ag Report (issue #31), writer Harold Vernon challenged readers to enter original recipes using green bananas in a contest. Harold's plea for Belizeans to eat this very neglected, nutritious, tasty and cheap starch source stimulated some excellent recipe entries. Below find the winning recipes. More recipes are included in our online version. The contest winners for the most original and best tasting recipes are Miss Paige Dietrich of Unitedville, Cayo District, and Mrs. Deborah Harder of Upper Barton Creek, Cayo District, Youth and Adult categories, respectively. Each receives a $50.00 prize. Thank you, Sally Thackery, Belize Ag Test Kitchen Supervisor and kudos to Harold Vernon for your instigation and prize donation. Thank�

Restoration of the San Ignacio Town Clock
Working on various community projects focused on refurbishing the San Ignacio Police Station in 2014, I became curious as to why the San Ignacio Town Clock wasn't working. I recalled that when I emigrated to San Ignacio in 1982 that it did work. I began to ask citizens why the clock wasn't working. Many said they didn't know or cited its age as the probable cause. Unsatisfied and more curious than ever, I finally got some information from "Jr" Simmons, owner of the venerable Hy-Et Hotel, on the corner of West Street and Bullet Tree Road. He said that the clock and four or five others just like it were gifts from Great Britain to the soldiers of British Honduras,�

Update on the Sugar Industry Management Information System (SIMIS)
In March 2016 a total of 74,258.87 acres of sugar cane fields under production have been verified in the northern sugar belt of Belize. From data collected it has been analyzed that cane variety B79474 remains the most dominant variety accounting for 60% of total area under production. This is followed by B52298 representing 17% and Belize Barbados Varieties (9 BBZ varieties) account for 4% of total area verified. All other varieties are reported as small quantities and available in more detail on the SIMIS database and represented on pie chart. Another valuable item of information collected was the spatial distribution of sugar cane fields regarding the actual size of each parcel. Data shows that small parcels between 0.1 to�

Importance of Biological Control and its Role in Managing Huanglongbing (HLB) in Belize
Figure 1: Adult Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and nymphs (Warnert, 2013) [above] Contributors: Ing. Helen Theresa Choco, Manuel Garcia, Veronica Manzanero-Majil The presence of the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP), a tiny insect about 4 mm in size (figure 1) was first detected in Belize in 2005. Later, in 2009, the presence of Huanglongbing (HLB) (formerly citrus greening) was confirmed in Belize. ACP is the most efficient vector responsible for the spread of HLB in the Americas. Considering the potential gravity of HLB based on experiences from other countries, the Citrus Research and Education Institute (CREI), the research arm of the Citrus Growers Association (CGA) in collaboration with the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA), the�

Sweet and Sour Dreams
March 2015 ( not April Fools day) we are reading in the news that a thousand year old Anglo Saxon recipe found in the British Library that is actually ninety percent effective in the eradication of the superbug MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus). Following the directions to the letter, scientists concocted a stew of onions, leaks, and garlic, stewed in vintage wine and cows' bile in a brass vessel for nine days to an amazing success. It may appear to be improbable that, after all, this time we are finding simple ingredients have the power to cure devastating diseases, but perhaps we need to pay more attention. For centuries folk healers around the world have claimed that God created plants�

Introduction of the African Bee to South America and Belize
The African honeybee (Apis mellifera adansonii) is a native of Africa, occupying roughly � of the continent, from the Sahara Desert in the north to the Kalahari Desert in the south. In 1957, 26 swarms of African bees, held for scientific breeding studies in a apiary near Rio Claro, Brazil, escaped, starting the "Africanization" of bees and establishing themselves as feral swarms occupying now the whole of South America (except what seems to be their climatic limits south of 32o S. on Northern Argentina), Central America, Mexico and the states of Texas, California, New Mexico and Florida and parts of the Caribbean. The African bee has the same number of chromosomes (16 in drones and 32 for the queen) as�

Limbe Lime
Back in 1976, citrus farmers in southern Belize were in need of agricultural lime (ag lime or white lime) in order to improve the pH levels in their soils. As result of numerous tests being done in limestone deposits in the Spanish Lookout area, Mr. Abraham L. Dueck discovered high quality lime that has come to benefit the farming industry tremendously over the years. Forty years later, the company he started is still in business, managed by his son Milton; Limbe delivers its agricultural lime to a host of farmers, including citrus, banana, corn, teak, and many others. It is also widely used in the aquaculture industry. Agricultural lime, or white lime, is essential to soil because it increases the soil's�

Understanding Bacillus Thuringiensis (Bt)
"Do you use chemicals on your vegetables?" is a question that the farmer selling directly to the customer is likely to hear. Often the farmer answers, "Only when necessary" or "No, I am organic". For questions like this, it is hard to give an accurate answer because most farmers whether organic or not, use some form of chemicals on their farms. Some farmers that are strictly organic must avoid certain chemicals but are still likely using some "natural" forms that are considered non-toxic. The scientific definition of a chemical is any basic substance that is used in or produced by a reaction involving changes to atoms or molecules.It is evident then, that chemicals include many things which may be harmful�

Considering Potassium and Manganese in Soil Fertility for Potatoes
Many growers feel that producing good yields of potatoes must involve the application of large amounts of fertilizer right under the seed row. The perception is that potato roots do not spread out much, and that they tend to grow straight down below where the seed is placed. This does show to be the case in many fields where potatoes are grown, but such limited root growth is actually abnormal compared to what should and does happen on potato fields with adequate levels of fertility. In fact, when soil fertility reaches the level it should be for growing potatoes, the plants send out roots that even spread across the middles, growing right on past roots coming from the next adjacent�

Remembering Mr. Anil Sinha
Mr. Anil Kumar Sinha's name is synonymous with CARDI, the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute he served for 34 years as an agricultural scientist, first in Guyana for a year and then the agriculture sector of Belize from 1983 until his sudden death on 20 February 2016. He was appointed the country representative for CARDI in 1989 and served as the CARDI representative on many technical and advisory boards, including the Pesticide Control Board as chairman. What a legacy he has left! His stewardship and accomplishments advanced Belizean agriculture far more than his breeding and development of cereals and grain legumes adaptable to the tropics. His efforts at partnering with other organizations, countries and Belizean farming communities for the�

Soils of Belize - The Toledo District
My last article left us at the northern boundary of the Toledo District. The soils of the Toledo District have all been formed under conditions of higher temperatures and higher rainfall. The dominant landform is the Maya Mountains and associated foothills that create the largest number of drainage courses of the 7 watersheds. This district has the largest number of rivers that are relatively fast moving and are broken up into many sub-units or tributaries. The mountains form a barrier that collects moisture from the coast and create conditions of condensation as rain and serious flooding. The floodplains of the Monkey River, Deep River and Golden Steam constitute the Northern Coastal Plain while the Rio Grande, Moho, Temash and Sarstoon�

How Sweet It Is Making Ice Cream at Western Dairies
Standing in line is not always a bad thing, especially if you are in line to buy ice cream at Western Dairies (WD) in Spanish Lookout and have not decided among 24 flavors which one(s) to buy. Behind the scenes are 6 busy people packaging the ice cream into 3 gallon, 1 gallon, � gallon, quart, pint, and 5 oz.cup size. The 3 gallon size is the best seller; it is the size that restaurants, resorts, and WD ice cream shops buy to serve their customers. Vanilla, chocolate and cheese cake seem to be the favorites sold in that size. However, vanilla counts for 35% of all sales. The newest product is an ice cream bar, vanilla ice cream coated�

Fire - Useful or Harmful Vegetation Management Tool for Belizeans
Fire, in the case of burning vegetation, consists of many processes and characteristics operating at various temporal and spatial scales that can result in even more diverse outcomes in terms of impacts on the biosphere. Relatively few terrestrial ecosystems have not been directly affected by fire, at one time or another, with both positive and negative outcomes. Today, due to the global scale of intentional and unintentional burning of native vegetation and agricultural crop residues, the overall biosphere is being affected more adversely than positively. Of course, as everyone knows, fires can be either started by humans purposely or accidently, while conversely natural wildfire in native plant communities can occur annually or with frequencies of greater than centuries. However, for�

Climate Change Impact on Agriculture
Adaptation measures to climate change and variability were the focus of a forum in February when the stakeholders of the agriculture sector and livestock producers met with representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest, Fisheries, the Environment and Sustainable Development (MAFFESD); Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA); and National Climate Change Office (NCCO). The participants developed specific recommended adaptation measures for both direct effects (changes in rainfall and temperature) and indirect effects (changes in pests, diseases and soil fertility) on agriculture crops and livestock. The measures recommended for excessive rainfall and flooding unclude: Drainage infrastructure, systems and mechanisms Well-designed and drained road infrastructure Available rainfall forecasts Relocation of animals and annual crops The measures recommended for drought include: Irrigation,�

Birding in Belize - A Visitor's Perspective
Slaty-tailed Trogon observed near duPlooy's Jungle Lodge [above] In February, my wife and I traveled to Belize for the primary purpose of bird watching, but our vacation also included snorkeling the barrier reef and visiting ancient Mayan ruins. Shortly after arriving in Belize City, we took a short flight on Maya Air over to Caye Caulker Island where we spent the next three days bird watching, relaxing, and walking, as our primary means of transportation on the island were our feet! Spending time on Caye Caulker was thoroughly enjoyable and stress free; the pace on the island was slow and pleasant. Being an avid birder, I particularly enjoyed the variety of Caribbean specialty bird species we observed on Caye Caulker�

Wildlife Impacts from Changing Landscapes
With Belize's growing population, spreading urbanization and expanding agricultural footprint, inevitably there are impacts on wildlife as portions of their habitat are cleared for new houses, roads, milpas and large-scale agriculture. Whilst large tracts of wildlife habitat are protected in central and southern Belize by the protected areas that provide critical environmental services such as water supply, flood control and protection from landslides, the wildlife of coastal and northern Belize are more limited in the provision of safe havens from land-use change. The gradual loss of wildlife across the landscape is going unnoticed. One species that makes an interesting case study is Belize's charismatic Yucatan black howler monkey, better known as the baboon or saraguato, one of Belize's two species�

Belize Livestock Producers Association Holds 38th Annual General Meeting
On March 19th, 2016, the Belize Livestock Producers Association (BLPA) convened for their 38thannual general meeting (AGM) at their headquarters at Mile 47 � George Price Highway. Ranchers gathered from all over Belize, and those renewing their membership found a special price of $25.00 annual dues in effect for the day. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Environment and Sustainable Development Mr. Jose Alpuche, always a welcomed attendee, made a short presentation noting that a reduction of the entry tariff [of cattle] into Mexico and the Government of Belize's (GOB) cooperation "will provide a foundation for you ranchers to build upon". He also noted that we need to attach "a proper value on the cattle�

Climate Change, Land Use, and the Future of Water in Belize
The reality of climate change has many of us questioning how the change in weather patterns will affect the agriculture industry. Not only have we seen a marked difference in the length of wet and dry seasons and when they occur during the year, but we're noticing more extreme weather behavior in terms of flooding and drought. These abnormalities lead us to wonder what the long-term effects of increasing average temperatures will be. The answer is not easy to pin down as it depends on many factors, such as how much average temperatures rise and how much more forest cover is converted to other land uses. Because so many people are interested in knowing how climate change will affect different�

Pro-Organic Belize Visits Pesticides Control Board - Understanding Pesticide Labels
On March 11th, 2016 a delegation from Pro Organic Belize (POB) met with Pesticides Control Board (PCB) staff at the PCB headquarters at Central Farm, Cayo District. Present from PCB were Pesticides Registrar Ms. Miriam Serrut, and PCB team members, Ms. Jenelle Canto, Mr. Selvyn Molina, Mr. Nonanto Canto and Mr. Ginnel Ozaeta. Nearly all of Cayo'sPOB members joined their "delegation", such was the interest level in learning more about how pesticides become registered and how to understand their labels. Belize recognizes 5 grades of pesticides, which are graded by hazard classification, shown in color, using the World Health Organization (WHO) Acute Oral Toxicity Tables for chemicals. Of the 2 reds and 1 each of yellow, blue and green classes,�

Homemade Health - Parasites
Headaches, pain, joint inflammation, nausea, weight loss, vision problem, cancer, even death. What do these symptoms have in common? All can be caused by parasites. Parasites are organisms that cannot live independently of their host. They are much more common than you may think. In a documentary made by National Geographic called "The Body Snatchers," they reported, "in fact, parasites have killed more humans than all the wars in history." . Dr. Hulda Clark writes that all cancers are caused by parasites. I don't know if that's true, but the subject is serious enough to warrant investigation. While this is an unpleasant subject, even repulsive to some, it is a problem that can affect everyone. Parasites can enter the body�

Spanish Lookout Commercial and Industrial Expo 2016
The Commercial and Industrial Expo held at Countryside Park in Spanish Lookout every other year continues to draw large crowds. The fourth annual expo, held on February 26 and 27, had 15, 500 attendees, 1,000 more than Expo 2014, who came from every district in Belize. For the 1,000 students who came by the busload on Friday and the crowd on Saturday it was a fun time of horseback riding, ATVs, boating, buggy and "train" rides, jumping on the trampoline, and enjoying a great variety of delicious food. The number of booths also increased from 130 to 140 with 15 new exhibitors. Although there was an increase in livestock showing, probably the largest category of exhibitors was car dealerships with�

Breadfruit Basics
Beautiful tropical breadfruit trees are very well-adapted to Belize's growing conditions including the rainy season; however, they can get water-stressed, resulting in partial defoliation in the dry season months but the tree continues to grow and bear fruit. The breadfruit tree has an exotic, lush tropical appearance due to its very large, lovely, lobed leaves. Breadfruit, (Artocarpusaltilis) is in the plant family Moraceae. There are both seeded and seedless breadfruit varieties. Other cultivated Artocarpus species include Artocarpuscamansi, known as breadnut; A. heterophyllus, jackfruit, and A.integer, champedak. Another relative of the breadfruit called dugdug is A. mariannensis, and the popular marang is A. odoratissimus. The seeds in all Artocarpus species may be boiled or roasted; they are both starchy and delicious.�

Belize Ag Youth Reporter Visits Miss Chrissie's Whiz Bang Chicken Plucker
This is not a fiction article, although from the title it might be about a farm beside "Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory". Belize Ag Youth Reporter Nick Roberson*, is fascinated and curious about all aspects of chickens and other domesticated fowl - guineas, turkeys, ducks, geese, he loves them all. Nick is always ready to accompany Belize Ag writers out on any chicken story. So when Ms. Chrissie Tupper announced to a few friends that she acquired a brand new Whiz Bang Chicken Plucker, imported from the USA and ready for assembly at her farm behind the Tuppers' restaurant, Cheers With a Tropical Twist, at Mile 31 on the George Price Highway, Belize Ag planned to check it out. March 23rd�

Antibiotics Off The Menu
The Belize Bureau of Standards commemorated "World Consumer Rights Day 2016" in Belize on March 14th at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel by hosting a seminar with the theme Antibiotics off the Menu. The World Health Organization has identified the over-use of antibiotics in animal feed as a world crisis. The event focused on the risks of antibiotic use in the poultry, pig and cattle industry. "The widespread use of antibiotics is used to control, suppress or to kill micro-organisms," stated Armando Cowo, manager of the Belize Poultry Association. Mr. Cowo urged the use of antibiotics to be limited and used only "when it is absolutely necessary." He recommended that farmers use best practices by keeping barns and animal lots�

POB Speaker Abram Harder
"The biggest mistake people make when planting a tree seedling is to plant it too deep," said Abram Harder, speaker at the Pro-organic Belize (POB) April meeting. That statement riveted the attention of the 23 people who came to hear him and exchange information with other attendees about growing trees and plants with "low input". Abram went on with specific instructions: find the tap root and plant the tree so that the soil is only 1 inch above it, never deeper, then clean it around the stem and mulch the tree well. He said that manure from either chickens or cows can be used as fertilizer but the important thing to remember is to keep it away from the trunk.�

Wild Squash or Wild Pumpkin (Sikil)
Belize has a number of indigenous foods that are increasingly being neglected. One such fruit (vegetable) is the "sikil" C. lundelliana; origin: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize. Sikils, about the size of a husked coconut, are white with green striations. All the people I have sampled recently cannot remember the last time they had eaten this highly nutritious food. It is usually grown without pesticides. All persons reported that they cooked it (to death) with meats. None reported eating it raw. All squashes can and should be eaten raw to obtain maximum benefit. This squash makes the best coleslaw I have eaten when julienned and/or complimented with fresh tomatoes and fresh cheese for a simple salad. Please tell us how you prepare and�

Ag Briefs
The 2016 Wine and Chocolate will be held on Friday, May 20th at The Lodge at Big Falls in Big Falls Village. The Saturday, May 21st event will be held on Front Street in Punta Gorda town and Sunday, May 22nd will be at Julian Cho Technical High School at Dump Area, San Antonio Road. Contact [email protected] or call 722-2531. The University of Belize College of Agriculture at Central Farm (UBCF) will host prominent soil fertility expert Neal Kinsey for the 3rd time in Belize, on February 27th -March 1st 2017 (the 2016 course was held earlier in Feb 2016). The upcoming course will be a new course to Belize; the 3 day Intro 2 course begins with a day�

Yam - A Gentle Giant of Tropical Roots
In January my husband told me we have several yams waiting to be dug, and we should start using them before the potato crops come in, here in Barton Creek. I asked why he didn't tell me sooner. Soon afterwards a large, brown, muddy, knobby specimen appeared on our back porch; it must have weighed 10 pounds. But my husband said it was only half of the smallest one and these grew up as volunteers and uncared for! Yam, not to be confused with the smaller and unrelated sweet potato and also not to be confused with the wild yam, a herbal source of estrogen, is surely one of Belize's under-appreciated foods. A vine that would thrive climbing up a�

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Issue #33 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.
Click HERE to download the PDF

Industrial Uses Of Hemp
A Short History of Cannabis Hemp Since ancient times, until this century, hemp was used throughout the world to provide food, fiber, paper, medicine, shelter and fuel. In the early 1900's Henry Ford used fuel made from hemp to run the first cars, and believing that hemp would play an even larger role in the automobile industry, he built a car body made from hemp fiber that was stronger than steel, yet only a fraction of the weight (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srgE6Tzi3Lg). Ford's engineers found ways to extract methanol, charcoal, tar, pitch, ethyl acetate and creosote - all from hemp and all of which are fundamental ingredients used throughout industry. But since the prohibition of hemp in the 1930's, these ingredients have�

From The Editor
Fruits and Vegetables in Belize's Markets Tested for Pesticide Residues? Currently Belize has no regular testing system for pesticide residues of fruits and vegetables sold in our stores and markets. Belize law does not mandate any pesticides residue testing of our foods, so there is no way to declare that they are safe or not. Belize products sold for export must meet the demands of the importing country, usually including pesticide residue testing. Importers bringing produce into Belize however, do not need to have any pesticide residue testing done. Under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, a country cannot impose restrictions on imported goods which are not required for the same domestic goods. Thus, in order to mandate pesticide residue testing�

To The Editor
Dear Editor, Subject: Lack of thinking hinders ag development Agricultural development has a future. Scientists in Kenya at the International Centre of Inset Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) and Rothamsted Research, UK in collaboration with other partners developed a natural method for controlling the corn-borer moth. A ground-cover plant, silverleaf desmodium, dissolves moth eggs laid on it; planted in fields between rows of corn, desmodium gives off compounds that repel the stem borer moth. Its roots suppress weeds including striga, a serious parasitic weed of corn. Napier grass, planted at the edge of fields, attracts stem borers out of the field to lay their eggs on it instead of the corn. The sharp silica hairs and sticky exudates on the Napier�

Potato Research In Peru
Of all the countries in the world, Peru is one of the most interesting in agricultural history. The diversity of plants and climates from rainforests to snowy mountains to hot deserts are all in a place about 1/8 the size of the United States. The origins of many important food crops such as potato, sweet potato, and certain peppers are here. Researchers in Peru and around the world are aware of the great importance of this region and many are devoting their life's work to improving agriculture for the country's people. I wanted to learn more about this curious place of so much diversity. The potato, for example: many thousands of varieties grow only in Peru - nowhere else. I�

Beyond The Backyard - Ghosts Of The Graveyard
They stand erect and tall as guardian soldiers, swords at the ready, ever on duty in our cemeteries. The dagger like plants of Draceanaafromontana and then Yucca were planted at the headstone or in place of one at unmarked graves to ward off evil and keep restless spirits from wandering. They are profoundly significant as a symbol of eternity and mourning in the cultural beliefs of tropical Africa. The tradition continued throughout the Americas and the Caribbean settlements, the Yucca becoming our sentinel. The name Yucca applies to more than 50 species that have mostly adapted to all types of terrain and share characteristics of appearance and chemistry. They are evergreens, drought tolerant, spread rapidly, fire adaptive, prefer full sun�

Belize's First International Beekeeping Symposium
Beekeeping is an agroforest activity that protects the environment, contributes to food security through the pollination of crops, and represents an important, albeit underdeveloped, industry that could provide employment to many Belizeans. In time, beekeeping has the potential to become a source of foreign exchange through the exportation of honey and other hive products such as beeswax, propolis, pollen, bees and manufactured products such as soaps, creams and shampoos. On May 27th and 28th, 2016, the beekeeping community met at the Cayo Welcome Center in San Ignacio to address the potential of beekeeping in Belize and its present challenges. The two-day event was organized by Cayo Quality Honey Producers Cooperative (CQHPC). CQHPC is based in the Cayo District and was�

Optimizing Corn Yield With Nitro Xtend+S
By Edwin Gomez, Axel Hidalgo, Wilbert Ramclam, Eddie Friessen and Albert Reimer The increase in productivity corresponds to the increase of total dry matter as a result of nutrients absorption (Karlen et al, 1987). Furthermore, the adoption of best management practices for the use of fertilizers is necessary to increase and stabilize yields and promote agricultural sustainability (Ciampitti et al, 2007). With these important factors in mind we conducted trials to evaluate the effect of a new product called NITRO XTEND that inhibits the enzyme urease which is responsible for breaking down nitrogen into ammonium. A crop of corn yielding 10,688 pound per acre would need to absorb approximately 219, 42, and 42 pounds per acre of nitrogen (N), phosphorus�

BEL-CAR Updates
Those who study the Ag Prices at a Glance page in the Belize Ag Report's centerfold, will have noted that it has been a good while since Class A corn has been even priced. (It has been marked N/A for not available). Bel-Car refers to Class A corn as dark yellow high quality type which is most desirable for their corn meal, rather than strictly feed corn. Class A has more endosperm and less germ and has high vitreousness. High endosperm kernels are usually brighter orange color, rather then yellow. Hard vitreous kernels have better nutritional, dry milling, breakage resistance and pathogen resistance qualities than soft opaque kernels. After Spanish Lookout's trials of a new hybrid variety of a Class�

21 st Meeting of the Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards of the Caribbean 6 - 10 June 2016
The Pesticides Control Board of Belize is pleased to report that the hosting of the 21st Meeting of the Coordinating Group of Pesticides Control Boards of the Caribbean (CGPC) held in Belize from 6 - 10 June 2016, was a resounding success. The meeting was held at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel in San Ignacio, Cayo under the theme: "A changing climate! A changing world! Responsible pest and pesticide management - our responsibility." Mr. Carlos Fuller of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre based in Belize was the keynote speaker during the meeting's first technical session. The CGPC is comprised of representatives from the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Boards or Authorities of the countries of the Caribbean, and associate members�

Building Life In The Soil
"How can I improve soil biology or encourage soil life on my land?" From organic to no-till farms, this is one of the most asked questions in agriculture today. Before that question can be answered there are other questions that need to be answered. Will the benefits from following a proposal to build life in the soil be profitable enough to be economically feasible? Will such a program justify the time and effort required? What type of changes may be needed to achieve the goal in a proper manner? The answers to these questions will help determine what may or may not be possible under varying sets of circumstances. There are no simple one-step plans that will apply to every�

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) And Green Cane Harvesting
In 2015 the Department of the Environment (DOE) started a national project entitled "Belize Chemicals and Waste Management Project", which aims to manage and dispose of all existing stockpiles of POPs, as well as reducing the release of unintentional POPs (UPOPs) into Belize's environment. In the past DDT was used extensively to control mosquitoes that carry malaria and dengue. Other chemicals continue to be used in agriculture. Now it is being recognized that these chemicals have unforeseen negative effects on human health and the environment. POPs can be transported by wind and water, and affect people and wildlife far from where they are used. They exist for very long periods of time in the environment and can accumulate and pass�

Belize Livestock Producers Association News
Belize is now proceeding with cattle sweep 4. Based on our good results indicating a healthy livestock population, and proposals at the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) we may qualify for some testing reductions. The OIE has drafted changes for the entire world, that, if accepted, would only require 3 tests for brucellosis under some conditions, rather than the currently required 5. Currently we must test 99.9% of our livestock, but we have applied to test only a representative percent of 22.7% of livestock for the fourth sweep. If those results are clean, they could be accepted and used to declare our official status. Throughout the country, it would then involve selected herds, identified into 6 risk areas: breeding�

Working Together To Reduce Predator Attacks On Livestock
Livestock production in Belize is common and increasing. Many farms and villages lie in close proximity to the forest, potentially putting their animals at risk of predator attack. Livestock predation is frustrating and economically damaging, particularly for small-scale farmers who may lose a substantial proportion of their herd if they suffer repeated attacks. Understanding how predators, such as jaguars, pumas and coyotes, use the forest and agricultural lands, and how livestock are managed within the landscape, is helping us to identify practical, cost-effective non-lethal methods to deter predators from attacking livestock. Panthera works in partnership with the Forest Department's Wildlife Program and theUniversity of Belize's Environmental Research Institute (UB-ERI). Our applied research combines ecological and social science to understand the�

Sustainable Harvest International (SHI)
SHI-Belize began its work teaching farmers in Toledo about organic gardening and agroforestry in March 1999 with only 3 staff members who were Agroforestry extensionists with agricultural backgrounds. The project included 40 - 45 families. Since 2005, when Nana Mensah became SHI-Belize Country Director, the organization greatly expanded in staff from 3 to 9, geographic scope to include Stann Creek and Cayo, number of farmers from 45 to 115, and project scope to include small animal husbandry and micro-business development. At the moment we are in the final stage of completing a project with 21 families in the village of Otoxha; the project was funded as a grant from the Australian government. Under this project we issued 21 sets of�

Sheep Projects In Belize
The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Belize, funded by International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), signed an agreement with the Belize government in December 2015 to assist with a 3 year small ruminant project which will run until December 2018. The project is a joint project between Belize and TTM, whereby funds are granted to the host country. TTM will assist with management and Mr. Pin-Nan Lee, a small ruminant specialist is assigned to oversee the new Central Farm sheep breeding facility. The budget of the project is US$1.274M over 3 years, with US$350K provided by the Government of Belize. While the project was initially planned to include both sheep and goats, a decision was made to focus solely on�

Forest Fires - All Is Not Well In Belize
The rainy season has started; no longer the gloomy grey dome of smoke choking us and distressing tourists because the rains have cleared the air from the fires of the dry season. Incredibly extensive and costly fires have persistently been devastating the countryside and biodiversity year after year. Before Belize gained its independence fires were considered a very serious business. Extension officers of colonial Belize worked with farmers in the fields every day of the week and issued official fire-permits to farmers to burn their milpa clearings. It was mandatory that all cleared land have a 6-foot wide fire-pass around the entire perimeter. The extension officer of the area would ensure that the fire-pass was well done and up-to-date for�

Surinam Cherry
Surinam cherry bushes grow all over Belize; they have pumpkin-shaped fruits that are botanically berries, but resemble cherries. If you are not familiar with Surinam cherries, imagine classic bing cherries with eight ribs growing on beautiful glossy evergreen leaved bushes. The cherries/berries look like cherries, but do not taste like cherries. The taste of the Surinam cherry fruit when ripe is said to resemble fig, mango, green pepper, with undertones of balsam and apricot, and even a touch of pine-like resin and tobacco aftertaste. Before the fruits are ripe they are tart, acidic and bitter tasting. It is best to pick only the fruits which are dark red and readily fall into your hand. There is a rare variety of�

Blue Moon Over Big Falls
Chocolate lovers congregated for the gala event of the 10th Annual Cacao Festival, now being called the Chocolate Festival, on May 20, not quite the full flower moon evening (full moon was actually Saturday) but close enough to add magic to the magnificent setting around the pool and lush tropical gardens at Big Falls Lodge, Toledo. This year the exhibitors offering samples of their products and very informative discussion regarding their procedures and mission were: Xoco, an event sponsor who focuses on supplying high end quality cacao beans to chocolatiers worldwide and now farming in Belize. Cotton Tree, who makes chocolate exclusively from beans from the Toledo District. Each batch of chocolate is created from the beans of a single�

The Majestic Mango
Stately, massive mango trees are the glory of a tropical farm. No other fruit is anticipated with such eagerness; no other fruit tree is so abundant to the point of overwhelming when they bear well. The varieties are as different as apple varieties and each one may have its own loyal devotee. Grafted mango trees begin to bear from 2 to 3 years from planting and continue for many, many years. As I write, the view through one of the windows of our house is fully dominated by the foliage of a mango tree about 20 yards away; it may be 40 years old and is bearing again this year. It used to bear only a type of mango known�

Fertility From The Deep - Nature's Perfect Nutrient Blend for the Farm - Written By Charles Walters
The hypothesis that the diversity and abundance of chemical elements contained in ocean water could provide "nature's perfect nutrient blend for the farm" was tested within the context of innovative farming methods proposed and implemented by Dr. Maynard Murray in the mid-20th century. In his book, Mr. Walters describes the inspirational, scientific and practical evolution and implementation of Dr. Murray's ideas and the experiments he conducted to revolutionize modern agriculture in terms of providing healthier food for an increasingly unhealthy human population. Dr. Murray had taken his medical training at the University of Cincinnati and spent a decade testing the art and science of his profession. While working many years in Boston hospitals, Dr. Murray became increasingly appalled by the�

Breakfast is Served! You Name The Dish.
What would you call a dish of green banana flour, seaweed, powdered milk, sugar and peanuts with water added and cooked for 15 minutes? That nutritious combination is being developed into a product at the Central Farm food processing test kitchen for the school feeding program. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forest, Fisheries, the Environment and Sustainable Development (MAFFESD) project, headed by Anna Howe, was started in July 2015 with the help and direction of a food specialist to find the combination of ingredients to (1) use local ingredients (2) make a tasty, nutritious breakfast food for the school feeding program at minimum cost, and (3) explore the marketability of such a product. Anna and her crew of 5 are testing�

Rainy Season War
The rains have fallen, the flowers and plants are blooming and the mosquitos are buzzing. That high pitched sound there little wings make in the night time is more than annoying, mosquitos are Vectors of Malaria, Yellow Fever, Chikungunya, and now a new player�.Zika! Most of the above mentioned are transmitted by the same villain, Aedes aegypti, which is distributed worldwide, except in the coldest of places. Female mosquitos require blood meal for the protein required by her developing egg brood. Dusk and dawn are active feeding times for mosquitos, and we all know the wet season bed time ritual mentioned above ��..hearing, but not knowing where the attack will eventually come. Vector transmission takes time, as the virus must�

Ag Events
The University of Belize College of Agriculture at Central Farm (UBCF) will host prominent soil fertility expert Neal Kinsey for the 3rd time in Belize, on February 27th -March 1st 2017 (the 2016 course was held earlier in Feb 2016). The upcoming course will be a new course to Belize; the 3 day Intro 2 course begins with a day and a half of trace minerals. Workbooks for the new course are available now for paid registrants of the next year's Intro 2 course. All are welcome to attend this course - students, teachers, private sector. Contact David Thiessen at 670-4817. Neal reports that this is "the favorite course" of farmers. Mark your calendars for Sustainable�

NATS/Agric Show 2016
The National Agriculture Trade Show (NATS) name has morphed into Agric Show. The 2016 Agric Show, held on the fairgrounds in Belmopan from April 29 - May 1, drew 39,500 visitors. The 50 acre plus fairgrounds have been updated each year with a vision to eventually use the NATS fairground for a year-round Saturday marketplace with new barns, a permanent horticulture garden and tilipia farm as a training ground for future farmers in Belize with the support of Minister of Agriculture Gaspar Vega. Mr. Vega is dedicated to helping small farms succeed with the goal of helping Belize reduce its dependence on imports and become more secure in food production and distribution. Some highlights of the 2016 Agric Show included�

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Issue #34 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.

WEED CONTROL PROGRAM FOR PASTURES
Weeds have been known to compete with crops for water, light, space and soil nutrients (J.D.Green et al 2006) thus reducing production. According to Penn State Extension Agronomy Facts 62, Weeds can be classified into three main groups (3). Annuals1, these complete their life cycle within a year and reproduce only by seeds. Biennial2 weeds live during two growing seasons (2 years) and reproduce only by seeds also. Perennial3 weeds live for more than two (2) years and reproduce by vegetative structure and seeds. A trial was conducted to control weeds in pastures at Spanish Lookout, Cayo District, Belize C.A. from the 10th August to the 12th September 2016 in collaboration with Mr. Art Plett. OBJECTIVE: 1. Evaluate herbicide mixture to control both annual and perennial weeds. 2. Develop a cost per acre analysis. 3. Evaluate weed control after eight (8) days of application. 4. Re-entry period for animal grazing.

Feasting in the Wake of Destruction Meals Prepared By Earl
Many of the trials and seeming disasters we experience can actually yield valuable fruits in our lives, for example, patience and wisdom. However, this spiritual principle is much easier to state in words than to live out in reality when we face disappointments of life. Our recent experience with Hurricane Earl reminded us of this truth and helped us to consider it, on a very small scale, for the storm did not damage anything truly important to us: our lives, the lives of our loved ones, or even significant amounts of property. We were thankful that God spared Belize reasonably well. As on many Belizean plantations, Hurricane Earl uprooted a few trees and banana plants at our place, and brought an abrupt end to the mango harvest, blowing down most of the immature mangoes. Our corn crop, like most of the neighbors, was mostly flattened; however, two months later, we were amazed to see how the corn continued to mature and produced a surprisingly good harvest, praise to God. Just after the storm we of little faith felt quite dejected when we saw some stalks were completely broken off. I brought the baby cobs home to use whole as a vegetable. Sliced into attractive "stars" and combined with thin slices of baby green bananas from broken off banana stalks they made a nice curry. I called it Hurricane Curry.

TO THE EDITOR
According to the Mennonites and some Belizeans that live in the Barton Creek area hunters are responsible for decades of destructive fires that have been set there. They set fires so they can come back a few weeks later and easily see and shoot animals. After the tall tiger fern is burnt off young grass sprouts appear and some animals enjoy eating them. To help solve this apparently country-wide problem the government needs to change the laws so penalties are severe for trespassing and arson. Then these very ignorant people may think twice about going on other people's land and setting fires. Perhaps the threat of a 10 year prison sentence would go a long way to help stop all the illegal logging as well. This year a fire was set on the other side of Barton Creek directly across from our property. It was so dry that a spark from it ignited the trees beside the creek on our side. It burned about 2000 square feet and killed all the young trees. Had it been drier one foolish person's criminal actions could have destroyed an entire forest along a beautiful creek.

Going Biological: Large-Scale Carbon-Smart Corn, Down the Wormhole
By David Yarrow. At the end of 2015 I talked to Missouri bootheel farmer David "JR" Bollinger about his experiences growing corn, soybeans and milo using carbonsmart farming principles and practices. In his first year fully committed to biological agriculture, Bollinger cut conventional fertilizers by 50 percent and applied blends of biocarbons, minerals and microbes. Soils, plants and yields are all showing positive results. Bollinger is the fourth generation to farm on 3,500 acres in the southeast Missouri Delta, with the family's main crops being corn, soybeans, wheat and milo.

Agricultural Sector Damages from Hurricane Earl
Overall, 1200 Farmers were directly affected by Hurricane Earl which ripped through Belize overnight August 3 and into the next day. The information below reflects only actual produce lost in the producing stage (does not include future losses anticipated from out-of-season fruit trees), using farm-gate prices unless otherwise specified. Additionally some losses of infrastructure are detailed. All prices are in Bz dollars. Citrus: Losses in Stann Creek and Cayo districts were mainly due to fruit drop, tree loss and damages to housing and other farm infrastuctures. Of the 38,000 acres in citrus production, fruit loss amounted to 641,654 boxes of fruit (519,731 boxes of oranges valued at $11,634,700; 121,923 boxes of grapefruit valued at $1,791,166) for an estimated total fruit loss of $13,425,861. Tree losses for oranges:12,556 trees valued at $35 per tree, amounted to $439,460. Tree losses for grapefruit: 1,156 trees valued at $40 per tree, totaled $46,240. Total tree loss was $439,460. Total immediate citrus loss was $13,911,566. Additional future fruit drop is anticipated as a delayed response to the wind damage and foliar loss to the trees.

Macro-economic Effects of Hurricane Earl
The national production of yellow corn was 146,385,913 pounds for 2014 and 135,043,110 for 2015. Approximately 53,000 acres of corn are planted on a yearly basis (mechanized plus milpa); from this total 26,674.5 acres or 120 M lbs equal to $34,998,802 were reported as a loss due to the hurricane. The losses in corn will trigger a ripple effect on the wider economy in terms of loss in foreign exchange due to a decrease in exports and feed for the industries of poultry, swine and cattle. As a result of the losses, an increase in corn prices and increase in by-products, for example, the price of meats, is expected. Corn is a staple crop considered a main contributor to food security.

Tomatillos...The Taste of Mexico By Jenny Wildman
I was when I first heard that some of my favorite vegetables, potatoes, aubergines (eggplant), tomatoes, and all peppers are part of the extensive nightshade family, Solanaceae, most of which can be toxic to humans. As children we were taught to avoid the pernicious deadly nightshade (Bella Donna) and thinking of anything as mildly related was somewhat unnerving. This is the plant dwale that contains poisonous alkaloids responsible for witches flying, murder and mayhem, delirium and death. Yet it was historically an important ingredient in medicine and still today is used in some pharmaceuticals. One branch of the nightshade family is Physalis which translated means bladder, as their common characteristic is the fruit being encased in a papery husk (the calyx). Some are ornamental as with Physalis alkekengi, the bright orange Chinese lantern. Others like Physalis peruviana, Cape gooseberry, ground cherry or golden berry, are both decorative and edible and affectionately called "love in a cage." The tomatillo (little tomato) Physalis philadelphicaor or Physalis ixocarpa is an essential ingredient to Mexican and Guatemalan cooking best known for salsa verde which graces every table.

Onions, Sheep, and Honey: A Winning Combination
By Sergio Omar Gomez. In an effort to minimize the economic impact to northern Belizean farmers by the loss of their preferential sugarcane market, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture launched a 30 month project in January 2015. The project, "Promoting Agri- business Development in Northern Belize" has been funded by the European Union. The economic diversification into growing onions, raising sheep, and making honey encompasses micro, small and medium enterprises in northern Belize. The three- pronged approach is aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihood opportunities for the rural population in Corozal and Orange Walk and includes 150 onion producers, 100 beekeepers and 100 sheep farmers. Dr. Jerome Thomas, FAO Representative in Jamaica, The Bahamas and Belize says that the farmers who are being exposed to the value chain approach are learning about all the stakeholders that operate within the industry from input suppliers to the final market consumers.

Industrial Hemp Medicine for the Soil
By Karin Westdyk. Since the 1800s people traveled for miles to a dairy farm in Taranto Italy. It was famous for producing some of the best cheeses and dairy products in the country. But in 2008 the farm was ordered to destroy all its animals because tests showed that they were no longer fit for human consumption. They were contaminated with nickel, lead and other toxic substances emitted from a nearby steel mill. Farmer Vincenzo Fornaro had to decide whether to abandon his farm or stay. He decided to stay and face the huge task of cleaning his soil. After much research, he gained permission to plant industrial hemp to absorb the toxic substances from the soil and neutralize them. Other farmers followed suit and today there are over 100 farmers in the area planting hemp to clean up their land. The planting of industrial hemp in the region has also brought new investments to the area.The first hemp processing plant in southern Italy transforms the hemp used to clean the soil into fiber to make shoes, bags, clothing and construction materials.

World Food Day
By Gary Ramirez. On 16 October 1945, 42 countries assembled in Quebec, Canada, to create the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Their goal was to free humanity from hunger and malnutrition, and to effectively manage the global food. FAO celebrates World Food Day each year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the organization in 1945. Events are organized in over 150 countries across the world, making it one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all. In Belize, World Food Day activities are coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with its partners in development such as Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) etc. Planning and preparation for the event is usually coordinated by the World Food Day committee and the one day fair is held typically on the campus of a selected high school or educational institution. In recent years, the event was hosted by Independence High School in Independence village (2013), ITVET Belize City (2014), Mopan Technical High School in Benque Viejo Del Carmen (2015).

BEL-CAR Updates
Following 2 years with challenging drought conditions, western Belize's prospective 2016 corn harvests on roughly 30,000 acres looked bright with expectations for restoration of prior corn inventories which had enabled regular exports. Hurricane Earl's arrival, on August 3rd dashed those plans. The biggest surprise of the storm was that the winds which hit the coast at 60-80 mph and normally decrease as they pass over land, apparently gained strength. Several Spanish Lookout farmers felt that winds on their farms exceeded 100 mph. The Spanish Lookout Community Office shortly after the storm estimated an approximately Bz$20 M loss in row crops. Barton Ramie, the most fertile belt in Spanish Lookout along the Belize River, was 40% flooded and what was not flooded was wind damaged. At Kitty Bank an even higher percentage of cropland was flooded. When flooding is brief (less than 5 or 6 hours), the corn quality is likely reduced to #2, but is still usable for animal feed. Corn underwater longer is not salvageable. Corn planted along the Sibun River, close to the former Hummingbird Hershey operation, were some of the first planted and were close to harvest time when the storm hit. Corn there which was knocked down remained down resulting in a stretched out harvest time from the normal 4 days to over 2 weeks. Expected yields of over 50-60 bags/acre were cut in half. By mid-October, Bel-Car's estimate of western corn loss was about 50% - including quantitative and quality losses.

Spanish Lookout Community Office on Poultry
The Spanish Lookout Community Office reported at least 12 poultry barns, all newer buildings, lost their roofs. They attributed the losses on newer buildings to the nails going into the boards holding the rafters which accumulated rust over time resulting in an adhesive effect. Also, many roofs were constructed with nails rather than screws. On the Sunday following Earl, a small narrow tornado passed through some of Spanish Lookout, popping roof screws again, and in at least one case picking up and smashing a sheep barn through a wall. For the chickens inside the poultry barns, young chicks suffered the highest losses. In some cases where the roof remained, horizontal rain and cold temperatures created a fatal combination for birds without full feathers.

History of John Deere
By Julian Thiessen. The humble beginnings of John Deere, the leading manufacturer in the agricultural industry, date back to the early 1800's. According to Brittanica, 2015, John Deere, the founder of the company, was born in 1804, in Vermont, and became an apprentice to a blacksmith at a very young age. He was a hard worker and known as a perfectionist. He once stated, "I will never put my name on a product that does not have in it the best that is in me" Eventually he opened up his own blacksmith shop; however to find more income to provide for his family he left Vermont and settled in Illinois where he did repairs as a blacksmith for the local pioneers.

Birds of Belize: The Art of Taxidermy Exhibit
By Dr. Stephen zitzer and Dalena Lesson. The Belize National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) in collaboration with Dr. Stephen zitzer launched an exhibit at the San Ignacio/Santa Elena House of Culture on Friday evening October 7, 2016 titled Birds of Belize and the Art of Taxidermy. The exhibit displays 30 plus bird species native to Belize that were provided by various official Belizean wildlife conservation, protection, healthcare and rehabilitation agencies in cooperation with the Belize Department of Forestry. Dr. zitzer did all the skinning, stuffing and posing of the specimens, most of which were victims of collisions with vehicles; many died of unknown causes and several were known to have been shot. Additionally, Dr. zitzer has a permit with the Belize Department of Forestry to legally collect dead animals and to perform taxidermy, but not to collect or kill live specimens. Except for a limited season for a few relatively large game bird species including ocellated turkeys and chachalacas, all birds in Belize are protected including all the species in the exhibit. The exhibit has a relatively high percentage of species of birds of prey, including nocturnal (active at night) species dominated by owls and diurnal (active in the day) species that includes hawks, falcons, forest- falcons and fish eagles or ospreys. However, their dominance in the exhibit is correlated with the fact that these birds are much more visible and recognizable when they are injured, but the fact they are often hit by vehicles does contribute to the record of their distribution in Belize.

Presentation on Glyphosate to Pesticide Control Board Registration Committee
As a first step in the newly developed policy and procedures for re-registration of pesticides, the August meeting of the Pesticide Control Board Registration Committee (PCBRC) was a session to hear presentations by two groups of petitioners who are recommending a ban on glyphosate. The first group represented six organizations: Sustainable Harvest International (SHI)- Belize, Plenty Belize(PB) and Belize Organic Family Farming (BOFF), Belize Botanic Gardens (BBG), Pro Organic Belize (POB) and Belize Wellness Institute )BWI); the second presentation represented Southeast Watershed Alliance Group (SWAG).

Successful Cattle Auction at Iguana Creek, Spanish Lookout
By Cornie Friesen of JF Brahman Ranch. JF Brahman and KR Ranch jointly hosted a cattle auction at the roadside cattle facilities of Joe Friesen Jr in Iguana Creek, Spanish Lookout on September 10th. Fifty-seven individuals registered to bid on the livestock. The cattle were sold to 16 different buyers coming from Spanish Lookout, Hummingbird Highway areas, and Lower Barton Creek. Fifteen Brahman breeding bulls were sold, bringing an average of $3,833 (3.25 /lb) per bull. The top selling bull, from Menno Reimer's KR Ranch brought $5,400. Seven Brahman breeding heifers (pregnant) were sold at an average of $2,130 (2.15 /lb), and the top price heifer was sold by HD Ranch (Glen Dueck). JF Brahman (Cornie Friesen) sold 8 bulls averaging $4,038 with their highest price being $4,800.

Necessity: The Mother of Invention: Corn Reels in Spanish Lookout
When Hurricane Earl belted across the corn fields of Belize it flattened much of the corn. The farmers in Spanish Lookout, using their combines for harvesting the corn, had serious problems: the combines could not pick up all the corn and the corn clogged the machinery. Daniel Koop, mechanical engineer/entrepreneur to the rescue! Using an existing design concept he fabricated a corn reel to mount on top of the combine header. The corn reel looks like a giant three-dimensional comb with three rows of "teeth" made of round steel tubing that assist the header with picking up and feeding the corn into the combine. The corn reel can be turned on and off with the flick of a switch by the combine driver as required; it is hydraulically driven. It can be raised and lowered during operation or lifted up and out of the way when its function is not needed. Daniel didn't have much time, but his ten busy employees fabricated 11 corn reels, outfitting a third of the combines in Spanish Lookout.

Cassava and Belizean Food Security
By Johnathan Canton and Gilbert Canton Jr. Can you imagine driving along one of our major highways and seeing "large tracts of cassava being planted and harvested? Large cassava trucks lined up outside of a cassava factory waiting to be unloaded? The cassava factory producing intermediate and final products, and distribution trucks busily being loaded to deliver products to supermarkets and other cassava consumption points?" This is precisely what Deep Ford, the regional coordinator of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for the Caribbean, asked the attendants of the 2014 Regional Conference on Cassava in the Caribbean and Latin America to envision. For many of us this might sound familiar. Indeed, we have seen similar sights associated with the sugar, banana and citrus industries in Belize. So why is there a sudden interest in cassava? The answer to that question first requires consideration of Belize's recent trade statistics. In the last decade our import bill has risen approximately 70% to nearly 2 billion Belizean dollars. In comparison, our export earnings are almost four times lower at roughly half a billion Belizean dollars. These alarming figures are not unique to Belize but represent a regional trend in the Caribbean. In fact, according to the FAO, half of the countries in the Caribbean region import greater than 80% of the food consumed.

Belize Orchid Diversity
By Dr. Stephen Zitzer. Belize is home for more than 300 species of orchid including the national flower of Belize, the black orchid (Prosthecea cochleata); many species live in all districts of Belize. The checklist of the vascular plants of Belize, published in 2000, lists 279 species of orchid second to the Fabaceae, or legume family, with 295 species found in Belize. More recently the Guide to the Orchids of Belize by Sayers and Adams, published in 2009 by the Belize Botanical Garden, lists 312 species of orchid including Pleurothallis duplooyi, an apparently endemic species, or one that is currently known to occur only in Belize. There is little doubt the list will continue to grow as more plant surveys are conducted in Belize and the existing species genetic relationship are studied and clarified. Worldwide the orchid family contains between 25,000-30,000 species and is one of the largest plant families on the planet occurring in almost every terrestrial habitat. They are most commonly found growing on trees along with other epiphytic plants, but some species grow on rocks, called lithophytes and many others in soils. Orchids are among the most evolutionarily advanced of plant families, having remarkable specializations for pollination, water uptake and storage, and associations with specific species of fungi and ants for nutritional needs and seed germination.

The History of Vanilla in Ancient Maya Culture
By Dawn Dean. Vanilla flourished wild in the damp shade of Central America's lowland forests long before humans discovered its tantalizing aroma and undertook its cultivation. It's possible that the plethora of seemingly wild vanilla found today in southern Belize is vestigial, left behind by the Manche Chol Maya. Before we get going, it's important to know that 500 years ago, a good cup of chocolate included not only cacao, but also annatto and vanilla. (But no sugar!) Now let's start with a bit of history. Herman Cortes traversed Chol territory in 1525, cutting across what is now the southwest corner of Belize, at the end of a journey from the southern part of what is now the state of Veracruz on the gulf coast of Mexico. His chronicle of the entrada, a lengthy letter to Emperor Charles V, includes several references to the cacao he came across in the region. Cortes was well aware of the value placed on cacao by the indigenous peoples he encountered on his travels, having noted in an earlier letter to Charles V that "they use it as money throughout the land and with it buy all they need". He had no idea, however, of the role that cacao would play, together with vanilla and annatto, in sustaining the local economy as the Spanish vied for domination of the Southern Maya Lowlands.

Marco Figueroa Speaks at POB
POB was fortunate to have cacao expert, Marco Figueroa as the speaker at their monthly meeting on 6th September at Maya Mountain Lodge, Santa Elena, Cayo District. A native of San Ignacio, Marco attended the Universidad de zamorano University in Honduras. Marco started in the cacao industry in the 80's with Hummingbird Hershey as Research Manager. Over the decades, Marco has worked for GOB at NARMAP, Programme for Belize, Belize Enterprise for Sustained Technology (BEST), and has managed a cacao operation in Costa Rica. In 2015 he retired after 11 years as the technical advisor for the Toledo Cacao Growers Association (TCGA) and now works at his own diversified farm in the outskirts of San Ignacio when not traveling internationally as a cacao consultant. Although Toledo is best known for its cacao industry, Marco revealed that there are a few areas in Stann Creek, Cayo and even Orange Walk Districts which are also suitable for growing cacao. Theobroma cacao is very particular as to its needs. Almost all the commercial groves are Theobroma cacao trinitario. T. cacao criollo is the Belizean native species which is increasingly rare today as it is very fragile and susceptible to disease. The criollo was crossed with the South American forestero many years ago to create the more hardy trinitario. About 700 cacao trees, 800 plantain and 136 timber trees fit nicely per hectare and give the cacao a desirable 50% "sprinkle" of sunlight.

Ecological Farming
By Taylor Walker. There is a lot of talk these days regarding global climate change, soil loss, and desertification. We as farmers, gardeners, and stewards of the earth can play a major role in slowing and even reversing these catastrophic trends. Thankfully there are many solutions at hand if we use thoughtful techniques and look to the natural environment for ideas and answers. In nature plants do not grow only in one plane but grow in all dimensions. Most natural terrestrial ecosystems consist of many different species of plants and plant types. Ground covers, vines, herbs, shrubs, understory trees, canopy trees, and emergent canopy trees are all present in a tropical forest. As anyone who has farmed or gardened in Belize surely has witnessed any cleared land left to its devices quickly begins to reforest in a tangle of herbs, vines, and hard tree species. These pioneer species are the first plants to colonize an area after the land is cleared either by farming, overgrazing, or fire. These species are often called weeds. A weed is just a name for a plant in a place that we don't want it or that we have failed to discover its purpose and function.

AG Briefs
The University of Belize College of Agriculture at Central Farm (UBCF) will host prominent soil fertility expert Neal Kinsey for the 3rd time in Belize, on February 27th -March 1st 2017 (the 2016 course was held earlier in Feb 2016). The upcoming course will be a new course to Belize; the 3 day Intro 2 course begins with a day and a half of trace minerals. Workbooks for the new course are available now for paid registrants of the next year's Intro 2 course. All are welcome to attend this course - students, teachers, private sector. Contact David Thiessen at 670-4817 or [email protected]. Neal reports that this is "the favorite course" of farmers.

Agriculture Prices At A Glance

Issue #35 of The BELIZE AG REPORT is online here!.

Old Crops Become New, Under-Utilized Native Crops: Ancient Amaranth
Amaranth is one of the most under-utilized native food plants of Belize. The name amaranth comes from the Greek amarantos which means never fading or does not wither. This is an appropriate name as it is a plant that tolerates drought and persists in backyard gardens with very little care. Amaranth, or as we know it in Belize, callaloo, has been cultivated as a grain for thousands of years. For generations, the native people of the Americas used it as a staple; the most extensive use of the plant was probably by the Aztecs as they have left behind many signs of the importance of amaranth in their way of life. Very little data on yield exists for amaranth cultivation in Belize but in Mexico the yields are comparable to rice. Amaranth has leaves ready to harvest within 30 days of germination and continues growing for approximately four months. The leaves are harvested while the plant continues to grow and produce food for us. The harvesting of the leaves stimulates tillering (plant that shoots up from the base of a plant) so the plant becomes more bush-like. One of the many advantages of this wondrous plant is its ease of handling.

Rainfall Totals in Belize
Statistics by region

Such a Delicious Monster
By Jenny Wildman. The members of the very large araceae or arum family are referred to as aroids. The family includes many plants which grow abundantly in tropical climates with names familiar to us: philodendron, monstera, dieffenbachia, caladium, calla, taro, dasheen, and coco yam. Some are grown for their edible corms, some for fruit but mostly for their striking foliage. They share certain characteristics such as large leaves containing a milky substance and are all laced with calcimum oxalate crystals or raphides which can cause temporary loss of voice and chronic itching. Even the edibles should never be eaten raw and extreme caution should be taken when handling, so anyone sensitive to oxalic acid should probably stay clear. The calla lily or arum lily is known for its magnificent beauty and has become a symbol of Easter and a traditional flower for weddings and funerals. The Romans put a lily upon a corpse to signify rebirth or resurrection but this later translated into association with death. It was considered very bad luck and the flowers were refused admittance to hospitals.

Mycorrhizae: what are they and can they give me better crops?
The symbiosis (the living together of two dissimilar organisms with mutual benefit) between plant roots and fungi has substantial agricultural usefulness. They form a compound structure known as a mycorrhiza or "fungus root". Plants exchange a fraction of the carbon that they have fixed from the atmosphere for phosphorous and nitrogen scavenged from the soil by the fungi. Since the discovery of the symbiotic nature of mycorrhizae in the late 1800's, a great deal has been learned about their mechanisms of nutrient scavenging and exchange.Very recent revelations have brought into question whether the tailored application of mycorrhizal fungi in the agricultural setting can enhance crop yields. Interestingly, some fungal partners cannot complete their life cycle without first associating with a plant partner. For this reason, they are referred to as obligate biotrophs (i.e. they need to extract nutrients from or "feed" off of other life forms). At first this sounds like parasitism. Indeed, many fungal parasites like the rust fungi that are known for their ability to negatively affect crops are also obligate biotrophs.

National Coconut Stakeholder Platform (NCSP) January Meeting at Tex-Bel Farms
On 18th January of this year, the National Coconut Stakeholder Platform (NCSP) held one of the largest meetings to date since its formation almost 2 years ago. The host of this meeting, Lester Muralles (Cabral), manager of Tex- Bel Farms, located on South Stann Creek Highway, graciously opened up the meeting to any coconut farmers in the area. The new approach for the NCSP is to rotate meeting venues. Chairman Manuel Trujillo opened the meeting and welcomed Minister of Agriculture Honorable Godwin Hulse, CARDI country representative Ms. Omaira Avila, members and guests. Mr. Trujillo began the meeting with disclosure of surveys which showed that Belize now has approximately 4,589 acres of coconuts - 1,919 producing and 2,670 planted. Mr. Trujillo explained that the focus of the committee at this time is on planting material and nursery stock. Although Central Farm has mainly Maypan (Malay dwarf x Panama tall), they are expecting 8,000 Chactemal seedlings from Mexico. All the GOB coconut nurseries in every district are bring re-habilitated.

Soil Testing and Fertilizer Recommendations: The Albrecht Program
The Albrecht program is not just a single approach to soil testing and fertilizer recommendations. There are three different approaches that need to be understood to find the one appropriate to use based on each soil analysis. Consultants are not utilizing the full program as defined and understood by Dr. Albrecht and what he taught and advocated if they do not understand or utilize all three approaches. The Albrecht model of soil fertility refers to the principles Dr. William A. Albrecht initially used working as a soil microbiologist to develop a dependable system for testing soils and correcting nutrient needs to achieve the ideal biological environment for growing top quality, highly productive crops and plants of all types. This program has to do with how he regarded soil fertility and approached it with measurable, scientific principles that could be applied and proven right out in the field. As outlined by the principles given below, the Albrecht model is a foundational approach for achieving excellent soil fertility for soils in any part of the world.

Understanding Cross-pollination in Seed Production
Cross-pollination is the reproductive method used by some plant species, e.g. corn, soya, beans, peppers, coconuts, vegetables, to secure and improve the gene pool and transfer their genetic traits, to increase their diversity and expand the species' survival, to adapt to climatic change, and enhance their capability to withstand pest and diseases. In nature cross-pollination is achieved when pollen from one plant is transferred to another receptive plant, either by wind, insects or water through open-pollination. The new offspring carries genetic material from both parents. Depending on how different from its parents its genetic makeup is, the offspring can be considered a new species and/ or cultivar.

Belize Initiates Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Agriculture
In June 2016 Belize and five other Caribbean countries initiated pilot studies in antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella from poultry under the initiative "Caribbean Integrated Surveillance System for Antimicrobial Resistance in Agriculture" (CISARA). The initiative is part of the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) project executed by the International Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) under the 10th European Development Fund. The pilot studies serve as the region's first initiatives to gather data on the status of antimicrobial resistance in the agricultural sector. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the resistance of a microorganism to an antimicrobial drug that was originally effective for treatment of infections caused by the microorganism, is a natural phenomenon. However, its development is accelerated by use and misuse of antimicrobials including over-prescription by doctors, patients not completing their treatment, use of antibiotics in livestock and aquaculture, poor infection control in hospitals and clinics, and lack of hygiene in facilities. AMR can result in severe, long-lasting disease and even death for victims of resistant infections because treatments that worked in the past are no longer effective; medical procedures that were once simple can become fraught with complication.

ARDI Day - December 5, 2016 Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) - 42 years servicing the Caribbean region
CARDI day was celebrated on December 5th with an outreach programme that focused on kids. Entitled Planting A Seed For The Future Of Agriculture the programme encouraged kids to learn how to plant and care for traditional Belizean crops. Students from two schools were selected to take part in a modified farmer field school to produce corn starting with planting the seeds on the 5th of December and lasting 120 days. CARDI technical personnel will meet weekly with the kids at school to teach them how to care for their plants during the next four months, allowing them to discover for themselves all the challenges a farmer faces planting corn. Kids were also given open-pollinated seeds of CARDI CY-001 yellow corn to start their own planting at home, and a guide booklet of how to plant corn. A total of 130 students participated in the exercise, and if well-accepted, the programme can expand to communities and agro clubs to encourage our kids to learn and love agriculture.

Planning and Planting an Orchard
Global deforestation has caused many environmental problems, such as reduction in rainfall, loss of ground water and erosion; deforestation is partly due to human greed and carelessness about the beautiful earth our Creator provided for our use and sustenance. While we may not be able to solve the problems we have unleashed, for everyone who wants to show honour and appreciation for creation and help heal the environment in a small way, planting trees is one of the simplest acts to do at home. Planting fruit trees is even better, since fruit trees not only clean the air and hold onto topsoil like other trees, but also provide top quality, nutritious food. Think of the benefits as you enjoy a fresh juicy mango or Malay apple from your own orchard! In planning your orchard, it is wise to think of planting trees bearing fruit most valued by both humans and birds close to the house, so you have some hope of picking some as you compete with the birds for the fruit. Such fruits include sapodilla, tangelo, and Malay apple.

Soil Enrichment Using Biochar: Belize's Under-Used By-Product
Biochar, "black carbon", or "pyrogenic organic matter" are broad terms for various forms of charcoal, which are produced by thermal decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen. The chemical term for this process is pyrolysis, and the relative control or regulation of osygen during the production process is very critical in determining the final specific properties each batch of biochar may have. In Belize, biochar is being produced on a large scale by the Belize sugarcane industry as a by-product of energy production via the pyrolysis/combustion of sugarcane biomass or bagasse. However, stock piles are increasing while use is relatively negligent. Conversely, there has been an effort to locally produce and utilize biochar for the production of cacao in the Toledo district. Those efforts have documented an increase in greenhouse-propagated cacao seedling stem diameter growth. Data on actual increases in commercial yield of cacao seeds have not been reported, but other cost benefits typically include less fertilizer use and reduced irrigation costs.

From My Perch: The Giving Tree
There was a tree in our yard that attracted so many birds all year round that we called it "the Giving Tree." I have tried to learn more about this tree so I could recommend that you grow one in your own yard. The scientific name is Coussapoa oligocephala of the family: Crecropiacea Magnoliophyta, what we call the trumpet tree, or Cecropia. It's hard to believe since they have very few similarities other than that they both grow quickly. I couldn't find a lot of information so I will share what I know. The tree is described as "hemi-epiphytic or terrestrial" growing up to 20 meters tall. It produces tiny yellow globular spiky flowers birds love to eat. Once the tree matures enough to bloom, it blooms continuously for months even though birds are constantly feeding off the small round yellow flowers. Every morning as the sun rose the Giving Tree would fill with all three types of toucans, motmots, tanagers, hummingbirds, orioles, woodpeckers and wood creepers, flycatchers and even parrots. During migration we expected and received surprises, like the gorgeous scarlet tanager and other migrants.

Exploring the Avian Wonders of Belize
On November 2nd 2016, a fall migrant from the Colorado Rocky Mountains,18- year-old field biologist, photographer, and artist, Joel Such takes flight across the Gulf of Mexico and lands on Belizean soil. Unlike the many migrant birds I have followed from North America, I am typically a resident who does not migrate south. This year, I break the trend and abandon the frosty mountains of Colorado's winter. I wake up my first morning full of expectation. Still under my sheets, the ambient noise of early morning fills my ears with promise. Shivering with excitement, I roll out of bed and snatch my binoculars off the bed stand. A vast environment completely foreign to my eyes lies beyond the door, and countless birds I have never seen await observation. I open the door to overlook a landscape of lush, green jungle, with topography sloping either up or down. I am in the Maya Mountains of western Belize, and this is where my journey begins. Amidst an ecosystem of mountainous broadleaf forest, birds flourish. A flock of migrant songbirds forages the surrounding bushes and trees, and I spot a raptor perched atop a dead tree. It is the endangered Orange- breasted Falcon feasting on its prize, a large bat clasped in its talons.

Expansion at NATS Grounds: Moving toward Year-round Use
The Government of Belize has been included in a UN Development Program with the Japanese Government called the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Project. The Japanese government is donating US$16 billion to 8 CARICOM nations to try to reduce the negative effects that climate change has on agricultural and sustainable development in these countries. The Belize government has decided to use a portion of its funds for sustainable agriculture projects with local produce farmers. Construction has begun at the National Agriculture & Trade Show (NATS) grounds in Belmopan for two covered pavilions, one with a cold storage room, to provide a wholesale and retail market for local farmers who grow quality produce. This once-a-week market will be administered by the Agriculture Ministry to improve the domestic market for local producers and allow small farmers direct access to the public. Details, such as which day of the week and booth fees, will be announced as decisions are made.

AgScience for Better Crops... Managing the Armyworm in Corn
Corn is one of the major crops of Belize; approximately 40,000 acres were grown in 2015. However, year after year, different pests attack the crop, causing huge losses to the farmers' economy. The main pest in corn is Spodoptera frugiperda, commonly known as the armyworm and it can be one of the most difficult insect pests to control in the field (Bessin, 2003). Spodoptera frugiperda is known to cause huge crop losses due to its high adaptability to different conditions allowing it to have a wide geographic distribution. In tropical and subtropical regions, losses can exceed 60% (Willink et al., 1993). The complete cycle of the armyworm takes 24-40 days depending on different conditions and has four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult which are described below and in figure 1 (CABI, 2016; Knutson, 2008).

Growing Hemp for Medicine
Ancient Chinese medical texts ranked cannabis as one of the most important medicines because of its ability to cure so many illnesses and its lack of toxicity. The first recorded use of hemp as medicine was in 2737 BC, and throughout history and the world, it was used for not only medicine, but for fuel, paper, fiber, and food. Until its prohibition in 1937, cannabis could be found in many medicines easily purchased in pharmacies and shops everywhere. When the U.S. Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act criminalizing the use of cannabis, a precedence of prohibition was established and was launched around the world through the subsequent United Nations Single Convention Treaty. Objections were raised by Dr. William C. Woodward, who testified to the government on behalf of the American Medical Association stating, "The American Medical Association knows of no evidence that cannabis is a dangerous drug." He warned that a prohibition "loses sight of the fact that future investigation may show that there are substantial medical uses for cannabis."

Solar Water Heating Systems
Solar water heating (SWH) goes back a long way; in 214 B.C Archimedes used a concave mirror as a solar collector to heat water. The solar collector is the heart of the system. It absorbs solar radiation, converts it into heat, and transfers useful heat to water in the absorber tubes. The third component of a solar water system is storage. Collectors: Flat-plate glass collectors: The collector housing can be made of plastic, metal or wood; the glass front cover must be sealed so heat does not escape, and dirt, insects or humidity do not get into the collector. The collector housing is highly insulated at the back and sides, keeping heat losses low. The glass cover faces the sun; this helps prevent convection losses and reduces heat radiation from the absorber into the environment in a similar way as a greenhouse does. However, the glass also reflects a small part of the sunlight, which does not then reach the absorber at all. The figure below shows the processes occurring at a flat-plate collector.

Unwanted Honey Bees
Maya stingless honey bees, Melipona beecheii, or simply meliponini, make honey that tastes like a mix of sweet and sour with a hint of fruit. The taste comes from plant resins that bees use to build their hives and honey pots. They make their honey in round sacks of black wax rather than honeycombs. They are cultured today, especially in Mexico and Australia, because of their good taste. Traditionally known as Xunan kab, meaning royal or noble lady bee, the Mayas cultured them not only for honey but for use in religious ceremonies. Some Mayas still keep meliponini - for honey and for pets. Found in the jungle in logs, the Mayas cut both ends of the logs and seal them; the bees enter and leave their nest by very small holes in the side of the log. But when they nest in your walls and the honey drips down the wall and on to the floor it means that the nest has probably been there several years and it's time to get rid of them.

Low-Impact Tourism: The Mayan Sky Canopy Tour
Imagine looking down on birds, zipping over the South Stann Creek River in one of southern Belize's newest low-impact tourism attractions! If you want a unique and safe nature tour, one that offers true panoramic vistas of the rich tropical forests of Belize, go visit Canopy Course and Jungle Tours Ltd. situated behind and between the oceans of banana fields of Maya King Farms at Mile 21 on the South Stann Creek Highway. The owners, Cesar Godinez and Tim Sise recently relocated their former Toledo Blue Creek Zipline to its current location, inaugurating the zipline at its new venue in December 2016. Cesar is no novice for this specialized type of construction, this zipline being the 5th facility that he has created in Belize. Cesar also owns/operates Belize Custom Treehouse Builders; visit to that website (see ad this page) and you will note the overlapping skill sets for these sister businesses. There are an estimated 9 or 10 ziplines currently scattered around Belize - mainly Cayo, Stann Creek and Toledo Districts, and one in Sand Hill, northern Belize District.

Blogo Bananas in Belize
In other parts of the world, the banana variety known as "blogo" banana in Belize, goes by other names. Bluggoe is most common. In Kriol they are called wail plantain or waika banana. Other names are burro, horse, square cooker, chunky or hog banana. By any name used, they are all heliconia plants from the banana family. Blogos are similar to the Pisang Awak variety banana. The official name of this banana variety is Orinoco as it is believed to have originated in Venezuela's Orinoco Valley. Orinoco bananas have spread to many tropical countries, especially Burma, East Africa, Grenada, Southern India, the Philippines, Samoa, Thailand and Central America. They are also a popular hardy banana variety suited to South Florida. Blogo bananas are hardy, pest resistant, and can survive cool or blasting heat. They are easily identified by a chunky, stubby, slightly square shape and grow to about eight to ten inches long and at least two inches across with blunt ends. Blogos are productive and often grow over fifty bananas on each stem. The thick strong peel is a vivid dark green which gradually ripens to a yellowish- brown without splitting.

Folks, This Ain't Normal: A Farmer's Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World.
By Joel Salatin, Book Review By Chris Harris.If you ride around on a huge combine harvester, keep thousands of chickens in a mass feeding coop or spray chemicals all over big fields, this book shows alternative methods of farming for you. After all it is written by a man who describes himself as a Christian libertarian environmentalist capitalist lunatic. Joel Salatin is one of the foremost advocates of ethical and responsible farming. He has traveled widely around the world, lecturing at universities and talking to farming groups. The book uses the American mass farming model to show the failings of corporate farming and food production. Salatin uses a lifetime of experience on his own farm in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia USA to point out and explain how a better way of raising food is possible without sacrificing ethical treatment of animals or food quality and using environmentally benign treatment of waste.

How to Grow Vanilla
It's easy to grow a vanilla vine. Actually producing vanilla beans on that vine is a bit more complicated, but still not hard. Vanilla just needs different treatment from all other plants. Here's the short version: Vanilla is a vine that grows up something usually a tree. It has roots that hold it on to the tree and they gather some nutrients for the plant, but it has more feeder roots along the top of the soil, under the mulch. Vanilla roots don't grow down into the soil much. Vanilla grows better in a fair bit of shade. To get beans (or pods, which is the more accurate word, but most people say beans), you need to do a few more things. Keep the vine growing in an area you can reach it, manage shade, and hand-pollinate the flowers when they come. See? Nothing difficult. Get a cutting from a healthy vine, approximately 1 meter long. Cut the leaves off the bottom half of the vine. It's okay if your cutting lays somewhere in the shade for a week or so at this point. In places with fungal problems farmers air-dry cuttings in the shade for a few days before planting.

AG Briefs
BLPA's AGM will be held on Saturday February 25th. See Ad pg 41 On March 4th , 2017, there will be a cattle auction featuring cattle from several leading ranches, held at Joe Friesen Jr's corral in Iguana Creek. Please see ad on pg 22 for details. The Chocolate Festival of Belize will be held on Commonwealth Day weekend, May 19th, 20th & 21st, 2017. For information on sponsorships, booths and tickets see page 38. The National Agriculture & Trade Show of 2017 will be held on April 28th, 29th & 30th with the theme, "Let's Get Growing". Kindly see the ad on pg 26 for details to reserve your booth.

IICA Supports the Institutional Strengthening of the Pesticide Control Board
The Pesticide Control Board (PCB) is the main statutory body responsible for regulating the use and management of pesticides in Belize. There are currently 565 pesticide formulations registered for use in Belize and listed in the official register of pesticides, containing some 193+ active ingredients. Registration, surveillance, monitoring and enforcement of the responsible use and management of so many pesticides is no small task for the staff at PCB. Its importance is underscored considering that agriculture plays an important role in Belize's economy, contributing almost 13% to GDP, and employing about 10% of the population at the end of 2015. Belize has increased its use of pesticides and other agro-chemicals over the years due to more intensification and commercial development of agricultural production systems, the need to increase productivity and deal with pests and disease problems, and to become more competitive in both internal and external markets.

Agriculture Prices At A Glance