VOG: Gases in the volcanic fog
Hawaii volcano emissions prompt federal disaster declaration
Gases in the volcanic fog, or vog, from Hawaii Kilauea volcano are killing crops and costing Big Island farmers millions of dollars
Vog not only blankets plants with sulfur, it fills the air with microscopic particles that block needed sunshine.
WASHINGTON (HawaiiNewsNow) Dec 01, 2009 – Gases in the volcanic fog, or vog, from Kilauea volcano are killing crops and costing Big Island farmers millions of dollars, but help is on the way.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared Hawaii County a natural disaster area. The designation means farmers there can apply for low interest loans from the federal government.
It is estimated that 2,000 to 2,500 metric tons of sulfur dioxide billows from Kilauea's Halemaumau Crater on any given day.
The vog leaves leafy greens less than leafy. Flowers are not as colorful or healthy as they should be.
"We can wash our trucks in the morning and in the afternoon you rub your hand across the top of the truck and it feels like sand paper," said Phil Becker. Becker and his wife Merle own Aikane Plantation Coffee Company near Pahala on the Big Island's South side.
"We've only got about three plants left after about 181 is what we started with and we've only got three that are trying to survive. It's also impacted our cattle as far as the grass not recovering the way it usually does," Phil Becker told Hawaii News Now.
These days the Beckers are focusing their efforts on growing coffee ... and even that is suffering. This year's crop is about a third the size of a normal crop.
"We hope that the loans will be able to help the farmers because most of them are really impacted by this. And the income that they are planning on surviving on is not there and the expenses that they have just to keep their heads above water is atrocious. It's really bad," Becker said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has declared Hawaii County a natural disaster area. The designation means farmers there can apply for low interest loans from the federal government.
It is estimated that 2,000 to 2,500 metric tons of sulfur dioxide billows from Kilauea's Halemaumau Crater on any given day.
The vog leaves leafy greens less than leafy. Flowers are not as colorful or healthy as they should be.
"We can wash our trucks in the morning and in the afternoon you rub your hand across the top of the truck and it feels like sand paper," said Phil Becker. Becker and his wife Merle own Aikane Plantation Coffee Company near Pahala on the Big Island's South side.
"We've only got about three plants left after about 181 is what we started with and we've only got three that are trying to survive. It's also impacted our cattle as far as the grass not recovering the way it usually does," Phil Becker told Hawaii News Now.
These days the Beckers are focusing their efforts on growing coffee ... and even that is suffering. This year's crop is about a third the size of a normal crop.
"We hope that the loans will be able to help the farmers because most of them are really impacted by this. And the income that they are planning on surviving on is not there and the expenses that they have just to keep their heads above water is atrocious. It's really bad," Becker said.
Source:
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=11592445
