Hawaii's farmers are struggling with pests, research gaps, and thin margins, and the push is on for more federal money to help — good news for local growers if the funding follows.

• Congresswoman Jill Tokuda brought House Agriculture Committee leaders to central Oahu farms to make the case for more federal research dollars.
• Crops like taro, breadfruit, coffee, cacao, bananas, and papayas are treated as "specialty crops" in Washington, but they are staple food in Hawaii.
• Coffee growers are fighting the coffee berry borer beetle, a pest that damages the beans before harvest.
• Researchers are using DNA sequencing and tissue culture to keep plants disease-free, and testing a possible new crop for biodiesel.
• The bigger goal is food self-sufficiency, so the islands depend less on shipped-in food.

Outlook: Expect Tokuda to push for more federal farm research funding, with results depending on the next farm bill.