STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2020

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 2695

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2012

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2695 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIVESTOCK FEED,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to create a livestock feed feasibility pilot project within the Department of Agriculture to investigate the viability of a livestock feed program on Department of Agriculture land.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Monsanto Co.; West County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; and Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that the rising cost of livestock feed has a significant impact on production costs for local protein producers.  Since 2007, two dairies and four egg farms have gone out of business primarily due to the rising costs of feed.  Without these local agricultural businesses, all beef, milk, chicken, and eggs will have to be imported into the State.  This measure would establish a livestock feed feasibility pilot project to help address the rising cost of feed and explore ways to increase the sustainability of our local protein sources.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the Oceanic Institute, an affiliate of Hawaii Pacific University, is actively exploring ways that feedstock can be sourced and produced locally.  As such, your Committee urges the Department of Agriculture to work collaboratively with the Oceanic Institute to further develop locally grown livestock feed as a step toward lessening Hawaii's dependency on imports.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of 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 S.B. No. 2695, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2695, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

____________________________

CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair