Cooperative Extension & Outreach | Agriculture & Natural Resources

Professionals working in Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) take a close look at the needs of local farmers, consumers and the plants and animals living on Guam.

Agriculture professionals conduct variety trials to find the fruit and vegetable plants most suitable to the soils and climate of Guam. They meet with farmers to help them solve the issues of growing crops in a tropical climate.

Extension entomologists assist farmers in how to control crop pests as well as protecting native plants and animals from accidentally introduced invasive species such as the coconut rhinoceros beetle.

Extension plant pathologists look at the disease organisms affecting crops and other island plants including ironwood trees.

Horticulture professionals assist backyard farmers and community gardeners in starting and maintaining vegetable gardens and food forests.

In 2018, Cooperative Extension & Outreach established the annual agriculture survey of production outcomes, revenues, capital investments and needs for Guam farmers. This information is the foundation for development of Extension education efforts for all producers.

Ag Field

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle

The coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), Oryctes rhinoceros, has been attacking coconut trees on Guam since it was first discovered on the island in 2007 and has proven to be voracious and tenacious. The coconut rhinoceros beetle, is a major pest of coconut palm, oil palm and other palm species. Palms are damaged when adult beetles bore into the crowns of palms to feed on sap. Tree mortality occurs when beetles destroy the growing tip (meristem). Immature beetles (grubs) do no damage. They feed on dead, decaying vegetation in breeding sites. Preferred breeding sites are dead, standing coconut stems, and piles of decaying vegetation such those left behind by typhoons or after replanting of oil palm plantations.

The links below provide more information regarding the CRB on Guam.

CRB Behavior & Biology

CRB Past Present Future

CRB White Paper

CRB Life Cycle Poster

Library of CRB Scientific Literature

Island Images: CRB Video

Guam Invasive Species Council Briefing 11/20/2015

Native Plants

Native plants are important to the ecosystems of Guam for many reasons. They provide food and habitat for wildlife; medicine, food, and cultural resources for people; reduce contamination of reefs, rivers, and aquifers; influence the soil in ways non-native plants cannot; and some plants are not found anywhere else in the world. The links below take you to a PDF with information about the individual plants.

Amahatyan

Aplokating

Chiute

Dukduk

Faia

Gapit atayaki

Hoda

Hunik

Ifit

Luluhut

Maypunyao

Niyoron

Nonak

Otot

Pugua

Sophora

Tabernae

Yoga

Invasive Plants

Invasive Vine

Plant Disease Diagnostics 2016

In May 2016, Extension and Outreach faculty member Dr. Robert Schlub in collaboration with the director of the Louisiana State Extension Plant Diagnostic Center, Dr. Raghuwinder Singh conducted a four-day diagnostic training workshop in an effort to strengthen the diagnostic capabilities of Agriculture Professionals in the region. Over the course of the training, agricultural professionals from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands received classroom instruction, which was reinforced with plant disease specimen collection field trips and laboratory exercises. The training emphasized diagnoses based on field symptoms and those revealed through the use of a hand-lens.

2016 Presentations - Louisiana State Extension Plant Diagnostic Center: Raghuwinder Singh, PhD

LSU Plant Diagnostic Center

Plant Diagnostics 101

Plant Diagnostics 102

Plant Viruses

Citrus Greening

Immunpstrip Assay

UOG-WPTRC: Andrea Blas, PhD

Diseases of Local Importance

UOG-CE&O: Robert L. Schlub, PhD

Basics of Scouting

Ironwood Tree Decline

Brown Root Rot on Avocado

Tree Diseases

Field Resources

Factsheets

Banana Bunchy Top Disease

Collecting Disease and Insect Pest Samples

Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (CRB)

CRB Trapping Methods

Citrus Greening

Diagnostic Sample Storage

Diagnostic Tips

How to Make a Wet Mount

Orchid Black Rot

Sample Photography - Diagnostics

Tobacco Screen Bacteria - Diagnostics

Home Vegetable Gardening

Information Resource List

Publications

Diseases of the Pacific

Eggplant, Pepper and Tomato Production Guide

Guam Cucurbit Guide

Index of Plant Diseases in Guam

Plant Disease Diagnostics 2021

In August 2021, Extension and Outreach faculty member Dr. Robert Schlub in collaboration with in-person and virtual trainers from Georgia and the Philippines conducted a three and one-half day workshop/training in an effort to increase the skills of Agriculture Professionals in the region. Trainers included University of Georgia Professor of Plant Pathology Dr. Robert Kemerait (in-person), University of Georgia Associate Professor of Mycology Dr. Marin Brewer (in-person), University of Georgia Plant Pathology Academic Professional Associate Dr. Kisha Shelton (virtual), and University of the Philippines Assistant Professor Dr. Leilani Sumabat-Dacones (virtual). Over the course of the training, agricultural professionals from Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands received classroom instruction, which was reinforced with plant disease specimen collection field trips and laboratory exercises. The training emphasized identification of prevalent fungal leaf pathogens and their diseases, based on field symptoms and those revealed through the use of a hand-lens, dissecting microscope, and compound microscope.

WSARE Workshop Agenda

Presentations

Introduction to Foliar Fungal Workshop

Introduction to Foliar Pathogens

Life Cycle of Cercospora and Corynespora

Life Cycle of Colletotrichum

Collecting, Processing and Storing Field Samples

Why Correct ID is Essential for Control

How to Collect and Send Samples Off-Island for ID

Prevalent Fungal Leaf Pathogens and Their Diseases

Molecular Tools in Fungal Detection

How to Use a Microscope

Creating Tutorials

Turfgrass Series

How to Prepare a Site	Drainage for Flooded Lawns
How to Prepare a Residential Lawn	Mowing: the Reasons
How to use Vegetative Methods	Mowing: How High How Often
How to Seed a Residential Lawn	Watering Residential Lawns
How to Fertilize a Residential Lawn	Pesticide Usage
Weeds a Major Problem for Guam Lawns	Diseases in Guam Lawns
How to Manage Insects in Guam Lawns

Insect Diagnostics & Identification

Drop-off location: Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Room 105.
Drop-off hours: Monday-Friday 8:30AM-3:30PM
Sample turnaround time: 48 hours

Cost: Free

Contact: Aubrey Moore | (671) 735-2086 | aubreymoore@triton.uog.edu

Plant Diagnostics

Plant Tissue analysis from outside of Guam will be charged an additional 100% for the routine plant analysis, and an additional 50% for all other tests. Fees charged for additional analysis not listed below, will be at the discretion of the CNAS Soil Scientist, with the approval of the Director /Associate Director for the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center.

Fees can be paid at the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center’s office, Room 206E, in the Agriculture & Life Sciences Building on the UOG campus. All fees must be paid to pick up analysis.

Drop-off location: Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Room 216.
Drop-off hours: Monday-Friday 8:30AM-3:30PM
Sample turnaround time: Four to seven work days. An additional rush fee of 50% will be charged for analyses required within 4 working days.

Cost:
Potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese, copper: $20.00 per element / per sample
Aluminum: $30.00 / per sample
Available phosphorus: $20.00 / per sample
Total % nitrogen: $20.00 / per sample
Total % carbon: $20.00 / per sample

Contact: Clancy Iyekar, 671-735-2143 | soillab@triton.uog.edu

Soil Diagnostics

Samples for soil analysis from outside of Guam will be charged an additional 100% for the routine soil analysis, and an additional 50% for all other tests. Fees charged for additional analysis not listed below, will be at the discretion of the CNAS Soil Scientist, with the approval of the Director /Associate Director for the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center.

Fees can be paid at the Western Pacific Tropical Research Center’s office, Room 206E, in the Agriculture & Life Sciences Building on the UOG campus. All fees must be paid to pick up analysis.

For off-island clients in the region, contact the lab for a Soil Import Permit and soil shipping stickers.

Telephone: 671-735-2143/2134

Email: soillab@triton.uog.edu

Cost: As listed
Routine Analysis
pH (water), % organic matter (O.M.), available phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, calcium, and magnesium: $40.00 / per sample

Special Analysis
pH: $5.00 / per sample
% Organic matter: $20.00 / per sample
Total % nitrogen, total % carbon, zinc, iron, manganese, copper: $20.00 per element / per sample
Nitrate: $25.00 / per sample
Phosphate: $25.00 / per sample
Electrical conductivity for soluble salts: $20.00 / per sample
Particle-size analysis (hydrometer method): $20.00 / per sample

Contact: Clancy Iyekar | (671) 735-2143 | soillab@triton.uog.edu