STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1429

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 192

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, 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 measure is to ensure the longevity and viability of the livestock industry in Hawaii by requesting the Department of Agriculture to convene a task force to develop long-term solutions to effectively protect the livestock industry.

     Specifically, this measure requests that the Department of Agriculture establish a task force to:

     (1)  Examine the current policies, procedures, and operations of livestock farms in Hawaii;

     (2)  Explore and identify best practices and any other available options to develop long-term solutions to effectively protect the livestock industry in Hawaii; and

     (3)  Establish findings, and identify and recommend solutions to issues involving satisfying livestock feed requirements.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture; the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii; the Hawaii Egg Producers Association; Horizon Lines, LLC; and Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers, Local 996.

     Your Committee finds that the cost of feeding livestock in Hawaii is significantly higher than on the mainland and this higher cost threatens local livestock producers with closure.  Hawaii relies heavily on overseas shipping for a majority of its food and products for food production; thus, if local livestock producers go out of business, the State will become even more dependent on imported foods and will lose the option of buying perishable goods, such as beef, milk, eggs, poultry, and pork, at their freshest.  Your Committee recognizes that S.B. No. 1307 and H.B. No. 1221, which both establish a livestock revitalization program introduced during the 2007 Regular Session, will only provide a short-term solution to one of the many issues that the livestock industry in Hawaii faces.  Thus, your Committee believes that the establishment of a task force to develop long-term solutions will assist in ensuring the longevity and viability of the Hawaii's livestock industry.

     Your Committee further recognizes that the transportation costs for livestock feed is not the only factor that is responsible for high feed costs.  It was indicated to your Committee that the ethanol fuel industry has also contributed to the rise in cost for corn; thus, it is important for the task force to explore and identify all contributing factors to the high cost of feed.  Your Committee encourages the Department of Agriculture to also collaborate with the Department of Transportation and other transportation sectors to provide a broader assessment of the challenges that the livestock industry in Hawaii faces.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs 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 Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair