Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 218 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for agricultural research and development to be performed by the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii, Gay & Robinson, Inc., Garst, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and Hawaii Forest Industry Association.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC) has made and continues to make significant contributions to Hawaii's agriculture industry. HARC's contributions include improving the sugarcane breeding population, developing high yielding cultivars of coffee that are resistant to diseases, and developing soil and plant amendment alternatives using molasses. Your Committee finds that the appropriation to be expended by HARC as provided in this measure will further the growth and advancement of Hawaii's agriculture industry.

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. 218 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.