5 Future Trainers: Developing a farmer run agriculture production monitoring program for the Farmer’s Cooperative Association of Guam (FCAG)

 

“5 Future Trainers” is a 3-year demonstration education project that will help FCAG develop an agriculture yield production program for Guam, leveraging a peer education model and projecting to reach 70-100 workshop attendees. The FCAG will use the skills and knowledge of the 70 FCAG members who offer years of growing experience, operate individual farms, and have a vested interest in the success of the FCAG and the agriculture industry in Guam. The FCAG will provide a Project manager and 1 employee to help E&O coordinate training, compile production data, and develop educational material.

 

Year 1 Quarter 1 (Q1) (June-August 2022)

After receiving WSARE funding in 2022, the methodology was developed by the UOG/E&O team on how and what to collect in the farmers’ fields. The PI and FCAG Project Manager conducted site visits to assess and discuss the timelines, crops, size of the fields, and crop planting cycles.

Information collected at the farms.

1. Crop and Variety
2. Date of planting/estimated day of harvest
3. Number of plants planted per row/distance between each plant
4. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre
5. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre
6. Duration of harvest

Year 1 Q2 (September-November 2022)

The UOG/E&O team attended the September FCAG 2022 board meeting and introduced the team members to the FCAG. In that September meeting, the 5 FCAG farmers were informed that UOG/E&O was awarded WSARE money to train them on how to develop an agriculture yield production program, which will eventually be run by the FCAG. In November 2022, the UOG/E&O team and the FCAG farmers discussed what crops they were going to grow and the type of information UOG/E&O needed to develop an agriculture yield production program.

 

This is a list of the FCAG farmers and their crops identified in the initial grant.

1. Mike Aguon (FCAG Southern Farmer)

No farm activity for Year 1

Quarters 1, 2 and 3, 4

 

 

2. Joe Paulino (FCAG Southern Farmer)

Crop A-3 field

Cucumber (35-45 days before harvest)

1. Crop and variety- Cucumber (Fountain)
2. Date of planting - December 17^th

Estimated day of harvest - January 21^st (35-45 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 81 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 2 feet
5. 11 rows = 891 plants
6. 162 feet long rows
7. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 10 lbs /plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 810 pounds / 162 feet row
2. 8,910 pounds for the 11 rows
3. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – crop failed
4. Duration of harvest - January 21^st – February 11^th

Field failed because of rain: Date planted: December 2022

 

Crop A-4 field

Long Beans (55-60 days before harvest)

1. Crop and variety- long beans (local)
2. Date of planting - December 1^st, 2022

Estimated day of harvest - January 25^th, 2023 (55 - 60 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 64 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 30 inches
5. 10 rows = 640 plants
6. 162 feet long rows
7. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 3 lbs/plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 192 pounds / 162 feet row
2. 1,920 pounds for the 10 rows
3. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – crop failed
4. Duration of harvest - January 25^th – February 25^th

Field failed because of rain: Date planted: December 1^st, 2022

 

3. Thomas Camacho (FCAG Northern Farmer)

Crop A field

1. Pepper (Chili) (60-70 days before harvest)

Planted September 2022 - No harvest data

Crop B field

1. Crop and variety- Watermelon (Shiny Boy)
2. Date of planting – March 25^th, 2023 (70 - 75 days before harvest)
3. a. Number of hills per row – 80 hills x 2 plants/hill

                                    80 hill x 2 plants per hill= 160 plants/row

1. distance between plants in a row - 5 feet
2. 12 rows = 1,920 plants
3. 400 feet long rows
4. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 20 lbs/plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 800 pounds / 100-foot row
2. 3,200 pounds / 400 feet row
3. 32,400 pounds for the 12 rows
4. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre –

Estimated day of harvest – June 8^th, 2023

6. Duration of harvest – 2 weeks

 

4. Katherina Reyes - FCAG Project manager (FCAG Northern Farmer)

Crop B field

1. Crop and variety- Cucumber (Korean) (35-45 days before harvest) B field
2. Date of planting - January 9^th, 2023

Estimated day of harvest – February 13^th, 2023 (35-45 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 200 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 1 foot
5. 9 rows = 1800 plants
6. 200 feet long rows
7. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 10 lbs /plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 2,000 pounds / 200 feet row
2. 18,000 pounds for the 9 rows
3. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – crop failed
4. Duration of harvest - three weeks

The field failed because of rain.

                        Crop A-5 field

1. Crop and variety – Eggplant (Ideal) (55-65 days before harvest) A-5 field
2. Date of planting - February 22^nd, 2023

Estimated day of harvest – April 12^th, 2023 (55-65 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 50 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 3 feet
5. 6 rows = 300 plants
6. 150-foot-long rows
7. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 8 lbs /plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 400 pounds / 150-foot row
2. 2,400 pounds for the 9 rows
3. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre –
4. Duration of harvest - twelve weeks

 

 

 

Crop A-6 field

1. Crop and variety - Long Beans (Local) (55-60 days before harvest) A-6 field
2. Date of planting - February 9^th, 2023

Estimated day of harvest – April 13^th, 2023 (55-60 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 200 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 1 foot
5. 14 rows = 1800 plants
6. 150 feet long rows
7. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 10 lbs /plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 2,000 pounds / 200 feet row
2. 18,000 pounds for the 9 rows
3. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – crop failed
4. Duration of harvest - three weeks

The field failed because of rain.

 

          Crop  C-2 field

1. Crop and variety- Cucumber (Korean) (35-45 days before harvest) C-2 field
2. Date of planting - February 22^nd, 2023

Estimated day of harvest – March 29^th, 2023 (35-45 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 244 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 1 foot
5. 9 rows = 2,196 plants
6. 244 feet long rows
7. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 10 lbs /plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 2,440 pounds / 244 feet row
2. 21,960 pounds for the 9 rows
3. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre –
4. Duration of harvest - three week

 

5. Ernie Wusstig (FCAG Northern Farmer)

Crop A-1 and A-2 field

1. Crop and variety - sweet corn (Super sweet) (60-70 days before harvest)

2. Date of planting - December 26^th, 2022

Estimated day of harvest – February 18^th, 2023 (60-70 days before harvest)

3. Field A
4. 524 feet long rows
5. distance between plants in a row – .9 inches
6. 698 plants / per 524 ft. row
7. 14 rows = 9,772 plants

Field B

1. 521 feet long rows
2. distance between plants in a row – .9 inches
3. 636 plants / per 521 ft. row
4. 14 rows = 8,904 plants

Total for Field A (9,772) + B (8,904) = 18,676 plant                                               

4. Expected Harvest

Field A

1. 698 plants / 524 feet row x .6 lbs per ear = 418 lbs
2. 418 lbs / row x 14 rows = 5,863 lbs

                      Field B

1. 636 plants / 521 feet row x .6 lbs per ear = 381 lbs
2. 381 lbs x 14 rows = 5,342 plants for the 28 rows
3. Expected harvest 18,676 plants x .6 lbs /plant = 11,205 lbs

18,676 ears = 11,205 lbs

5. Actual harvest= 10,278 pounds of sweet corn
6. 10,278 pounds / .6 pounds per ear= 17,130 ears

 

6. Duration of harvest – 6 days (2-18 to 2-23-2023)

 

In Year 1 Q3-4 (December 2022 - May 2023), the E&O PI and FCAG Project manager will facilitate a mentorship process, coordinating 3 farm workshops at the 5 initial FCAG farm sites. Producers will demonstrate how they collect harvest data. The three workshops will be conducted over 6 months.

From August 2022 to February 2023, Guam received an unusual amount of rainfall. The Climatology Data took the rainfall data for Guam Area, GU (ThreadEX), August 2022 - March 2023. Table 1

 

Month                         Year                Normal monthly rainfall         Actual rainfall

August                         2022                            17.66 in                       9.15 in

September                   2022                            15.77 in                       13.74 in

October                       2022                            12.73 in                       17.12 in

November                   2022                            8.29 in                         5.66 in

December                    2022                            5.30 in                         9.32 in

January                        2023                            5.34 in                         14.02 in

February                      2023                            4.15 in                         5.69 in

March 1^st-21^st             2023                            1.94 in                         3.83 in

 

In Guam, the average yearly rainfall is about 95 inches, and most of it happens during the wet season (July to November). While growing crops from July to November is done, the production output and the loss of whole fields are usually affected by heavy downpours that can cause fruit and leaf disease.
The traditional growing months on the island are December to June, considered the dry season. The dry period accounts for 15% of Guam’s annual rainfall. During the seven months of dry weather, growers can irrigate and fertilize the crop uniformly. The dry weather conditions equate to less disease pressure, and maximum sunshine makes the dry season the most productive agriculture month for local growers.

Unfortunately, the rainfall Guam received from September 2022 to March 2023 impacted the planting cycles of all but one of the FCAG farmers participating in the “5 Future Trainers” 2022 WSARE project. Ernie Wusstig harvested 10,278 pounds of sweet corn from February 18th to 23rd, 2023.

Because of the lack of production caused by the unusual rain, a sixth FCAG member was added to Year 1 Q3 (December 2022-May 2023). Glenn Takai was able to harvest cucumber from his 2023 field successfully.

1. Glenn Takai (FCAG Southern Farmer)
2. Pepper (Chili) (60-70 days before harvest)

Crop C field

1. Crop and variety- Cucumber (Fountain) (35-45 days before harvest) B field
2. Date of planting - January 17^th, 2023

Estimated day of harvest – February 21^st, 2023 (35-45 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 55 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 2 feet
5. 5 rows = 275 plants
6. 110 feet long rows
7. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 10 lbs. /plant

                      Expected Harvest

1. 550 pounds / 110 feet row
2. 2,750 pounds for the 5 rows
3. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – crop failed
4. Duration of harvest - three weeks

 

 

Actual Cucumber Harvest

Date                            Pounds

2-17-2023                    20

2-20-2023                    34

2-25-2023                    32

2-27-2023                    37

2-28-2023                    86

3-3-2023                      86

3-4-2023                      73

3-8-2023                      79

 Total                            447 lbs

 

The cucumber harvest for this field was drastically affected by Guam's rainfall from January to March 2023. Anthracnose, a leaf fungus, hampered the optimum potential for cucumber fruit production.

 

Crop A field

1. Crop and variety – Eggplant (short purple) (55-65 days before harvest) A-5 field
2. Date of planting - February 26^th, 2023

Estimated day of harvest – April 16^th, 2023 (55-65 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 14 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 6 feet
5. 10 rows = 140 plants
6. 80-foot-long rows
7. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 8 lbs /plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 112 pounds / 80-foot row
2. 1,120 pounds for the 10 rows
3. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre –
4. Duration of harvest - twelve weeks

Because of the unforeseen weather that plagued Guam in Year 1 Q3-4 (December 2022 - May 2023), I want to start Year 2 Q1-2 (June—November 2023) with the E&O PI and FCAG Project manager, facilitating a mentorship process and coordinating three farm workshops at the 5 initial FCAG farm sites. Producers will demonstrate how they collect harvest data. The three workshops will be conducted over six months. The timeline for the remaining project will stay the same.

During Year 2 Q1-2 (June - November 2023), E&O and the FCAG Project manager will coordinate a 2-workshop series, 1 at a farm in the North and 1 at the FCAG Dededo Facility. The 5 FCAG Producers will train 20 FCAG and non-FCAG members.

Year 2 Q3-4 (December 2023 - May 2024), E&O and the FCAG Project manager will coordinate 2-workshop series, 1 at a farm in the South and 1 at the UOG Inarajan Research & Education Center. The 5 FCAG Producers will train 20 FCAG and non-FCAG members.

Year 3 Q1-2 (June - November 2024), E&O and the FCAG Project manager will coordinate 2- workshop series, 1 at a farm in the North and 1 at the FCAG Dededo Facility. The 25 FCAG Producers will train 25 FCAG members and any non-FCAG.

Year 3 Q3-4 (December 2024 - October 2025), the FCAG Project manager and E&O will coordinate the production data collection. E&O will work with FCAG to disseminate data to the Guam Department of Agriculture, Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association, and Guam Economic Development Agency.

 

 

Year 2 March 30th, 2023

May 25th, 2023

Typhoon Mawar, a category 4 typhoon with sustained winds of 140 mph, made a nearly direct landfall in Guam on the early morning of Thursday, May 25, 2023. The typhoon delivered solid winds and rain over the island for hours, causing destruction and knocking out most of the island’s power and water for weeks. Due to this natural disaster, the planned activities for the “5 Future Trainers” WSARE grant for Year 2 Q1-2 (June - November 2023) and Year 2 Q3-4 (December 2023 - May 2024) were not accomplished. The farmers we identified as collaborators spent 6 months recovering from the damage caused by Typhoon Mawar. 

 

The situation of the Farmers

• Two farmers are still recovering from Typhoon Mawar
  • Mike Aguon
  • Joe Paulino
• Three farmers are now starting to farm.
  • Glenn Takai
  • Tom Camacho
  • Joe Kosaka
• One grower is not farming.
  • Katherina Reyes
• We added one more farmer.
  • Joe Kosaka
• One farmer is not reporting.
  • Ernie Wusstig

This is a list of the FCAG farmers and their crops identified in the initial grant.

 

 1.  Mike Aguon (FCAG Southern Farmer)

No farm activity for Year 2 Q1-2 (June - November 2023)

Crops destroyed by Typhoon Mawar

 

2. Joe Paulino (FCAG Southern Farmer)

No farm activity for Year 2 Q1-2 (June - November 2023)

Crops destroyed by Typhoon Mawar

 

3. Thomas Camacho (FCAG Northern Farmer)

Crop 1 2023

1. Crop and variety- Watermelon (Shiny Boy)
2. Date of planting – March 25^th, 2023 (70 - 75 days before harvest)
3. a. Number of hills per row – 80 hills x 2 plants/hill
4. 80 hill x 2 plants per hill= 160 plants/row
5. distance between plants in a row - 5 feet
6. 12 rows = 1,920 plants
7. 400 feet long rows
8. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 20 lbs/plant

          Expected Harvest

1. 800 pounds / 100-foot row
2. 3,200 pounds / 400 feet row
3. 32,400 pounds for the 12 rows
4. Actual harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre –

Estimated day of harvest – June 8^th, 2023

Duration of harvest – 2 weeks

Crops destroyed by Typhoon Mawar

 

Crop 1 2024

1. Crop and variety- Watermelon (Shiny Boy)
2. Date of planting – March 3^rd, 2024 (70 - 75 days before harvest)

            Estimated day of harvest – June 2024 (70-75 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of hills per row – 115 hills x 2 plants/hill

                                    115 hill x 2 plants per hill= 230 plants/row

1. distance between plants in a row - 2 feet
2. 18 rows = 4,140 plants
3. 230-foot-long rows
4. Expected harvest/per 100-foot row/per Acre – 20 lbs/plant

Expected Harvest

                      a.1000 pounds / 100-foot row

1. 4,600 pounds / 230 feet row
2. 82,800 pounds for the 18 rows

Actual harvest

 

CROP/VARIETY: Watermelon	DATE PLANTED: 03/03/24	SIZE OF FIELD: 0.90 Acre	NUMBER OF ROWS: 18	LENGTH OF ROWS: 230 ft	PLANT SPACE IN ROW: 2 ft	EST. NUMBER OF PLANTS: 4,140
Date of Harvest	Total Harvest (lbs)	Total Marketable Harvest (lbs)	Comments

5. Actual Harvest/per 100-foot row/Acre – 20 lbs/plant
6. Per plant =
7. Per 100-foot row =
8. Per Acre =
9. Duration of harvest = weeks

 

Crop 2 2024

1. Crop and variety- Pepper (Chili) (50-60 days before harvest)
2. Date of planting - March 2^nd, 2024

Estimated day of harvest – (May-June 2024) (50-60 days before harvest)

3.  
4. Number of plants per row - 25 plants/row
5. Distance between plants in a row - 2 feet.
6. 15 rows = 375 plants
7. 50-foot-long rows

 

4. Expected harvest
5. Per plant = 3.00 lbs.
6. Per 100-foot row = 100-200 lbs
7. Per Acre = 7,000-22,000 lbs.

 

 

 

5. Actual harvest

 

CROP/VARIETY: Pepper, Hot Chili	DATE PLANTED: 03/02/24	SIZE OF FIELD: 0.15 acre	NUMBER OF ROWS: 15	LENGTH OF ROWS: 50 ft	PLANT SPACE IN ROW: 2 ft	EST. NUMBER OF PLANTS: 350
Date of Harvest	Total Harvest (lbs)	Total Marketable Harvest (lbs)	Comments

4. Per plant =
5. Per 100-foot row =
6. Per Acre =
7. Duration of harvest = weeks

 

4. Katherina Reyes - FCAG Project manager (FCAG Northern Farmer)

          She no longer farms.

 

5. Ernie Wusstig (FCAG Northern Farmer)

Crop 1

1.Crop and variety - sweet corn (Super sweet) (60-70 days before harvest)

Year 2 Q1-2 (June - November 2023) Crops destroyed by Typhoon Mawar

Not actively reporting data

 

6. Glenn Takai (FCAG Southern Farmer)

Crop 1

1. Crop and variety- Pepper (Chili) (50-60 days before harvest)
2. Date of planting – September 11, 2023

Estimated day of harvest – December 2023 (50-60 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 40 plants/row
4. Distance between plants in a row – 3 feet
5. 5 rows = 200 plants
6. 120-foot-long rows

 

4. Expected harvest
5. Per plant = 3.00 lbs.
6. Per 100-foot row = 100-200 lbs
7. Per Acre = 7,000-22,000 lbs.
8. Actual Harvest

FIELD INFORMATION

CROP/VARIETY: Guåfi Pepper	DATE PLANTED: 9/11/22	SIZE OF FIELD: 0.11 acres	NUMBER OF ROWS: 5	LENGTH OF ROWS: 120 ft	PLANT SPACE IN ROW: 3 ft	EST. NUMBER OF PLANTS: 200
Date of Harvest	Total Harvest (lbs)	Total Marketable Harvest (lbs)	Comments
01/15-01/21	26	26	numbers are only a fraction of the field because of different planting dates (some pre-mawar, some new)
01/22-01/28	30	30
01/29-02/04	30	29
02/02/24	19	19
02/05-02/11	18	18
02/12-02/18	20.5	20
02/19-02/25	35	35
02/26/-03/03	44.5	44
03/04-03/10	32.5	32.5
03/11-03/17	18	18
Total	273.5 lbs.	271.5 bs.

Actual harvest as of 3-17-2024

1. Per plant = 1.36 lbs.
2. Per 100-foot row = 45 lbs.
3. Per Acre =
4. Duration of harvest =11 weeks

 

Crop 2

1. Crop and variety – Eggplant (short purple) (55-65 days before harvest)
2. Date of planting - February 26^th, 2023

Estimated day of harvest – April 16^th, 2023 (55-65 days before harvest)

3. a. Number of plants per row - 13 plants/row
4. distance between plants in a row – 6 feet
5. 10 rows = 130 plants
6. 80-foot-long rows
7. Expected harvest
8. Per plant = 8 lbs. x 130= 1,040 lbs
9. Per 100-foot row = 200-270 lbs.
10. Per Acre = 15,000-29,000lbs.
11. Actual Harvest

 

CROP/VARIETY: Short Eggplant	DATE PLANTED: 2/26/23	SIZE OF FIELD: 0.09	NUMBER OF ROWS: 10	LENGTH OF ROWS: 80 ft	PLANT SPACE IN ROW: 6 ft	EST. NUMBER OF PLANTS: about 130
Date of Harvest	Total Harvest (lbs)	Total Marketable Harvest (lbs)	Comments
01/15-01/21	32	29	numbers are only a fraction of the field because of different planting dates (some pre-mawar, some new)
01/22-01/28	55	52
01/29-02/04	131	125
02/02/24		51
02/04/24		54
02/05-02/11	69	67
02/12-02/18	77	75
02/19-02/25	191	163
02/26/-03/03	251	18
03/04-03/10	125	107	Thrips infestation affects more than 50% of the field. Missed treatment spray due to off island
03/11-03/17	134	105
Total	1,065 lbs	1,170 lbs.

Actual harvest as of 3-17-2024

1. Per plant= 9 lbs. x 130 =1,170 lbs.
2. Per 100-foot row=
3. Per Acre =
4. Duration of harvest - twelve weeks

 

Crop 3

1. Crop and variety- Yardlong bean (Galante long beans) (55-60 days before harvest)
2. Date of planting – January 1^st, 2024

Estimated day of harvest – March 2024 (55-60 days before harvest)

• a. Number of plants per row - 40 plants/row
• Distance between plants in a row – 3 feet
• 4 rows = 200 plants
• 120-foot-long rows
•  
• Expected harvest
• Per plant = 3.00 lbs.
• Per 100-foot row = 300-400 lbs
• Per Acre = 7,000-22,000 lbs.
• Days during harvest = 4 weeks

Actual harvest

 

CROP/VARIETY: Galante long beans	DATE PLANTED: 01/15/24	SIZE OF FIELD:	NUMBER OF ROWS: 4	LENGTH OF ROWS: 120 ft.	PLANT SPACE IN ROW: 3-4 ft	NUMBER OF PLANTS: 156
Date of Harvest	Total Harvest (lbs)	Total Marketable Harvest (lbs)	Comments
02/19-02/25	4	4
02/26-03/03	21	21
03/04-03/10	18	17
03/11-03/17	50	40
Total	93 lbs.	82 lbs.

Actual harvest as of 3-17-2024

• Per plant= .59 lbs. x 156 plants =93 lbs.
• Per 100-foot row=
• Per Acre =
• Duration of harvest - four weeks

 

7. Jeff Kosaka (FCAG Southern Farmer)

Pepper (Chili)(Guifi) (50-60 days before harvest)

• Date of planting – October 20^th, 2023 (50 - 60 days before harvest)
• distance between plants in a row – 2 feet
• 10 rows = 100 plants
• 20 feet long rows
• Expected harvest.

Per plant = 3.00 lbs.

per 100-foot row = 100-200 lbs

per Acre = 7,000-22,000 lbs.

Actual harvest

 

CROP/VARIETY: Guåfi Peppers	DATE PLANTED: mid Oct 2023	SIZE OF FIELD: 20x60"	NUMBER OF ROWS: 10	LENGTH OF ROWS: 20 ft	PLANT SPACE IN ROW: 18-24"	EST. NUMBER OF PLANTS: 100
Date of Harvest	Total Harvest (lbs)	Total Marketable Harvest (lbs)	Comments
03/14/24	1.5	1.5	expected day of harvest - January
Total	1.5	1.5

Actual harvest

• Per plant= .015 lbs. x 100 plants = 1.5 lbs.
• Per 100-foot row=
• Per Acre =
• Duration of harvest – 1 week

Year 2 Q3-4 (December 2023 -May 2024)

It took almost eight months for Guam to recover from the damage caused by Typhoon Mawar. As the farmers began planting crops again, the E&O team organized a workshop for farmers at UOG on February 28th. The meeting involved inviting 5 FCAG farmers/producers to reintroduce them to the process of collecting harvest data on their farms.

The E&O team presented an incentive program to encourage the farmers to keep and report production monitoring of the crops they are growing. The incentive program will pay $100.00 honorarium to each farmer every month (5 months March – July) for production data ($500.00 total). Each farmer will be given an option of an Excel sheet (hard copy) that requires them to fill the information in themselves or a Google document that can be done online. The hard copy requires them to call FCAG and the UOG team to report the crop's progress, while the Google document will upload the information automatically. The incentive also includes a $250.00 honorarium for hosting a farm workshop (2 farm workshops) on their farm. The workshops will start the mentorship program that the 5 FCAG members will pass along to FCAG members and non-members. The 10 total farmer workshops will target between 30 and 50 FCAG members, non-members, and gardeners. The workshop will focus on the importance of production monitoring and how to collect and report the actual yield of the crop at harvest.

Workshops

Year 1 Q2 (September-November 2022)

1. The UOG/E&O team attended the September FCAG 2022 board meeting, where the team members were introduced to the FCAG. At that meeting, the 5 FCAG farmers were informed that UOG/E&O was awarded WSARE money to train them on developing an agriculture yield production program, which the FCAG will eventually run.
2. In November of 2022, the UOG/E&O team and the FCAG farmers discussed what crops they would grow and the type of information UOG/E&O needed to develop an agriculture yield production program.

Year 2 Q1-2 (June - November 2023)

On May 25, 2023, Typhoon Mawar, a category 4 typhoon, hit Guam. Agriculture crops were destroyed, and Guam farmers spent 6 - 8 months recovering.

Year 2 Q1-2 (December – May 2024)

1. The E&O team coordinated a farmer workshop at UOG on February 28^th, 2024. The meeting included inviting the 5 FCAG farmers/producers to reintroduce them to how they will collect harvest data on their farms.
2. The first farm workshop was conducted on the Takai farm in the village of Talofofo on March 26^th, 2024. Farm manager and collaborator Glenn Takai invited five producers to his farm to discuss the importance of production monitoring.

 

The first farm workshop was conducted on the Takai farm in the village of Talofofo on March 26^th, 2024. Farm manager and collaborator Glenn Takai invited five producers to his farm to discuss the importance of production monitoring. Nineteen people attended the Talafofo farm workshop: six commercial farmers, seven producers, two students, and four E&O team members. 

GLENNT~1

 

Walking the field with the farmer

Farmer Educating Other Farmers during the Workshop

Farmer Educating Other Farmers during the Workshop