STAND. COM. REP. NO.  408

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2011

 

RE:   H.B. No. 1570

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1570 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this bill is to assist livestock farmers remain financially viable by:

 

     (1)  Appropriating funds for the Livestock Revitalization Program (Program) to reimburse qualified producers of milk, pork, eggs, poultry, and beef for feed costs; and

 

     (2)  Expanding the scope of eligible farmers for the Program by including a qualified producer of goat milk with a herd of at least 25 lactating milking goats.

 

     Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association, Mikilua Poultry Farm Inc., and a concerned individual supported this bill.  The Department of Agriculture supported the intent of this measure.  Animal Rights Hawaii and several concerned individuals opposed this bill.

 

     Your Committee notes that testimony for this measure included a request to include feedstock reimbursements for aquacultural producers within the scope of the Program. 


Your Committee intends to continue to address this issue as this measure moves forward in the legislative process.  Your Committee notes that in addition to providing the people of Hawaii with fresh, locally-produced livestock products, livestock farms also provide a potentially valuable vehicle to expand agricultural tourism ventures for our state.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Clarifying that the minimum number of lactating milking goats in a herd is at least 25 under the definition of "qualified producer" to conform to the intent of this bill; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for style, clarity, and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1570, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1570, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair