STAND. COM. REP. NO.  2082

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2007

RE:   S.C.R. No. 192

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 192 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO EFFECTIVELY PROTECT THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IN HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to establish a task force to develop long-term solutions to protect the livestock industry in Hawaii.

     The University of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Teamsters Local 996, and Hawaii Egg Producers Association supported this measure.  DOA supported the intent of this measure.

     Your Committee recognizes that increased feed and transportation costs have jeopardized the financial viability of the livestock industry in Hawaii.  Long-term solutions must be identified and implemented to help the industry overcome these challenges.

     Your Committee also notes the concerns of DOA with respect to the availability of funding to cover the expenses of the task force.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 192 and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

CLIFT TSUJI, Chair