A fast January briefing on what matters now: PQA training in Honolulu, Nebraska land lease workshops, a weaned calf risk webinar, and a preview of silvopasture with our Oahu livestock agent. We share links, dates, and how each step builds animal care, market trust, and resilience.

• PQA training on Oahu with date, time, and location
• why pork quality assurance strengthens consumer trust and market access
• Nebraska land lease workshops and what good clauses look like
• weaned calf risk protection webinar and core tools to manage price risk
• preview of silvopasture benefits and design considerations
• links, email, and social accounts for updates
• request for listener topic ideas and feedback

Resource Links: 

• Pork Quality Assurance Training - January 23, 2026 - Oahu Island 
• Center for Ag Profitability - University of Nebraska 

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We talk with Franny Brewer of the Big Island Invasive Species Committee about how prevention, early detection, and community reporting protect Hawaii’s farms, forests, and neighborhoods. From port monitoring to nematode injections, we map the tools anyone can use to slow the spread.

• Role of BIISC across prevention, detection, response, and education
• Port monitoring for CRB, RIFA, mosquitoes, and Japanese beetle
• Early detection using iNaturalist and formal plant ID
• Prioritizing threats with Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment
• Widespread pests education via Hawaii Ant Lab methods
• Two line spittle bug impacts on pasture and spread
• Queensland longhorn beetle damage to kukui, cacao, ulu, citrus
• Nematode trunk injections as a targeted control
• Devil weed toxicity to cattle and pasture takeover risk
• Outreach in communities and training for frontline workers
• Choosing non-invasive plants with PlantPono.org
• How to report sightings with clear photos and samples

Links: https://www.biisc.org/

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A quick tour of the month’s livestock calendar spans Hawaii’s backyard poultry workshop, a statewide brand re-registration reminder, and Nebraska’s lineup of ag outlooks, tax updates, land lease sessions, captive insurance training, and ranch succession planning. We point to the tools, dates, and choices that help producers manage risk and prepare for the next year.

• Backyard poultry basics workshop in Waimanalo with live demos 
• Hawaii brand re-registration deadline and five-year cycle 
• Nebraska Ag Outlook meetings on markets, risk, and policy 
• Tax changes affecting deductions and planning for 2025 
• ARC and PLC decisions and program updates 
• Land lease rate workshops and negotiation guidance 
• Captive insurance workshop to clarify benefits and risks 
• “Returning to the ranch” webinar on succession and ownership

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We lay out a practical, year-round plan to manage internal parasites in sheep and goats using selective treatment, better pasture use, and simple records that prevent resistance. Barber pole worm takes center stage as we share tools that cut losses and keep flocks productive.

• why barber pole worm is the primary threat
• signs like anemia and bottle jaw to watch
• selective treatment using the FAMACHA scoring system
• how the five-point check guides quick triage
• using fecal egg counts and reduction tests
• rotating by drug classes and safe combinations
• withdrawal times for meat and milk compliance
• record keeping that protects fertility and growth
• rotational and multi-species grazing to lower exposure
• supportive options like copper oxide and tannin-rich forages
• building a farm-fit program with targeted deworming

Check out past episodes about sheep & goat managment: 

• S3 Ep. 6: Small Ruminant Herd Health w/ Randy Saner
• S2 Ep 05 Small Ruminant Parasite Management w/Susan Schoenian

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We examine why hiring feels harder across agriculture and share a practical system to recruit, onboard, and retain employees on farms and ranches. We compare labor signals in Hawaii, Nebraska, and the U.S., then turn data into day-one checklists, mentorship, and culture that lasts.

• Hawaii, Nebraska, and U.S. labor snapshots and trends
• Why applications rise while qualified fits fall
• Writing job titles, summaries, and clear duty lists
• Separating required vs preferred skills for better fit
• Building pipelines with schools and internships
• Onboarding steps that speed productivity and trust
• Safety as care: PPE, hazards, and procedures
• Mentorship and monthly check-ins to reduce turnover
• Seasonal expectations for overtime and schedules
• Retention through culture, skills ladders, and flexibility

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We share fast, practical updates producers can use now, from poultry health recordings and a five-part swine biosecurity series to finance tools, risk webinars, and a simple system to organize vital documents. Hawaiʻi and Nebraska resources align to protect herds, tighten budgets, and keep families prepared.

• Poultry basics webinar recap with Dr Gregory Archer and YouTube recordings
• 5-part webinar series: Safeguarding Hawaii’s Swine: Building Biosecurity and FAD Preparedness - Part 2 Registration Link
• Safeguarding Hawaii’s Swine - Producer participation details.
• Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council Convention
• Brand re-registration window and five-year renewal reminder
• Ag Smart Money Week dates, topics, and free recordings
• Livestock risk management webinars, including Weaned Calf protection
• Ag Budget Calculator access and October 20 how-to session
• Online record-keeping options for Quicken and QuickBooks
• Policy replay on federal ag issues with Dr Brad Lubben

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Mele and Shannon provide an update on essential concerns for producers and upcoming livestock events in Hawaii and Nebraska.

• Three-day poultry basics webinar series (September 17-19) covering health, food safety, and environmental management with Dr. Gregory Archer from Texas A&M
• Small ruminant health workshop in Hilo (September 20) featuring parasite control, grazing management, and hands-on emergency care training
• Safeguarding Hawaii’s Swine: Building Biosecurity and FAD Preparedness: a program focused on biosecurity and foreign animal disease preparedness through a five-part webinar series
• Hawaii Cattlemen's Council convention on Maui (November 13-15) including hands-on workshops at Ulupalakua Ranch
• Critical reminder to re-register livestock brands between September 1 and December 31, 2025
• Alert about two-line spittlebug spread to new areas of Hawaii Island, affecting approximately 180,000 acres
• "Returning to the Ranch" workshop in Nebraska (September 12-13) to facilitate family farm transition planning with professional mediators
• Free livestock risk insurance webinars, Ag Budget Calculator, and online farm finance courses now available through the Center for Ag Profitability

Email us at [email protected] with questions or comments about these topics. Follow us on social media and visit the UH-CTAHR Extension website for additional resources. Stay tuned for our next episode!

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Elizabeth Pickett of Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization shares her 17-year journey from marine conservation to wildfire prevention, explaining how post-fire erosion damages coastal ecosystems and the organization's evolution to address this connection. After decades developing resources with limited public engagement, the devastating 2023 Lahaina fire dramatically increased awareness and demand for HWMO's wildfire prevention and mitigation materials.

• HWMO started 25 years ago when ranchers, farmers, and firefighters noticed increasing fires but found no existing organizations addressing the issue
• Organization offers comprehensive resources from tracking fire patterns and community wildfire protection plans to residential safety measures and land management strategies
• Provides different levels of support, from free workshops to affordable consultation services that help develop mitigation plans
• Post-fire resources emphasize soil stabilization before replanting, honoring community safety and proper recovery sequence
• Collaborative programs like Firewise Communities and Wildfire Resilient Landscapes encourage neighbors and adjacent landowners to work together
• Fire management requires cross-boundary coordination across diverse groups rather than siloed approaches
• Hawaii-specific resources address unique island challenges including limited native seed availability for post-fire restoration

For more information and resources on wildfire prevention and mitigation in Hawaii, visit the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization website or the Pacific Fire Exchange, a collaborative project with the University of Hawaii.

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We share exciting updates from Hawaii and Nebraska in this quick mini-episode covering upcoming workshops, tax information, and educational opportunities for livestock stakeholders.

• April 12: Calving Management and Grazing Management Field Workshop at Mealani Research Station in Kamuela, Big Island
• All-day hands-on outdoor field workshop with no PowerPoint presentations 
• Registration required - email for more information or follow on Eventbrite
• Preliminary information on the Ag Land Survey now available for Nebraska
• Nebraska Department of Agriculture tax credit course available online through UNL
• Grain marketing webinar series continuing through April and May
• Dr. Lida Garcia from Ohio State University speaking next month about meat quality

Show some love for your favorite podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen to this, and stay tuned for next month's episode.

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Dr. Lyda Garcia, Associate Professor and Extension Meat Specialist with The Ohio State University, shares her expertise on the science behind meat quality and how proper livestock management impacts the final product consumers enjoy. Quality means different things to different people - from marbling content and color to freshness and safety - but understanding the factors that influence it can help producers deliver better products.

• Three types of stress affect meat quality: physiological, psychological, and nutritional
• Bruising causes significant economic losses, especially in beef cattle and cull cows
• Dark cutters (from long-term stress) and PSE meat (from short-term stress) are major quality issues
• Show animals often experience more quality issues due to handling and environmental stress
• Home processors should implement food safety practices including three-bucket cleaning systems
• Use a 1:1 ratio of white vinegar and water as a final antimicrobial intervention
• Proper cooling and temperature control are essential for both quality and safety
• Common sense practices prevent cross-contamination during processing
• Food safety shouldn't be compromised, especially considering vulnerable populations

Reach out to your extension program with questions - that's what they're there for! Follow Livestock Wala'au and Livestock Extension Group on social media for more information.

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