Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2005

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 168, H.D. 2, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation for agricultural research and market development.

The Department of Agriculture, the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Big Island Farm Bureau, Gay and Robinson, Inc., Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Aquaculture Association, Hawaiian Commercial Sugar Company, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Kauai Coffee, Kauai County Farm Bureau, Maui County Farm Bureau, Meadow Gold Dairies, and Pineapple Growers Association of Hawaii submitted testimony in support of this measure.

Your Committee finds that a revived and revitalized state agricultural industry would help to diversify Hawaii's economy, sustain and stabilize Hawaii's food supply, and protect the open space and lifestyle that Hawaii residents and visitors value. This measure provides funding for the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation to conduct agricultural research and market development to revitalize the agricultural industry.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 168, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 168, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.