2021-10-27 EMC Agenda item 5-b(i) - Climate change is a big problem for farmers in Hawaii (MC)

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Climate change can make trees more susceptible to damage trees to flower from pests and pathogens. well, nighttime temperatures in the winter have to hit 63 to 64 degrees for a certain number of days. In years where the temperatures have been higher than normal, larger farms in the Hilo and Ka`u region have had lower yields because the flowering wasn't as good, said Trump of the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association. An increase in pests and root -borne pathogens — exacerbated by heavy rains that create soil conditions that microorganisms thrive in — have increased the decline of macadamia nut trees on the Hilo side of Hawaii island, Trump said. Several hundred acres of trees have been abandoned by farmers in recent years, he said. Many factors impact crops and the challenges facing Hawaii's farmers extend beyond climate change. For example, the macadamia nut trees being abandoned in the Hilo region of Hawaii island are old — which could make them more vulnerable to disease and pests. But farmers and scientists say the link to climate change is significant. And climate change doesn't just impact things like how well crops pollinate and g row. "What about our human resources? Are we going to be able to find people to work in really scorching heat?" Ornellas said. Production methods are going to have to change to accommodate climate change. Transportation will be impacted. Marketing. Even things like capital are a concern for farmers, he said. Is the money going to be available to farmers for them to make the changes they need to make? Ilf IIL III Ilf t.tbi.,,u iii,e Farmers are inherently optimistic by nature, Ornellas said.