STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2110

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3208

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 3208 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

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

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, Alexander and Baldwin, Inc., Land Use Research Foundation, Hawaii Cooperative of Organic Farmers, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Hawaii Beekeepers Association, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that agriculture will continue to play a vital role in Hawaii's efforts to become more self-sustainable.  With the demise of the plantations that once controlled vast acres of pineapple and sugarcane fields, there is a need to promote the diversification of Hawaii's agriculture industry.  The agriculture industry should continue to explore new opportunities as prime agricultural lands become available.  To take advantage of these opportunities and to provide the necessary support for the overall transition of Hawaii's agriculture industry from plantation agriculture to diversified agriculture, more resources must be directed toward agricultural resources and development.  The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation is a non-profit agricultural organization representing the interests of, and exemplifying a strong commitment to, the agriculture industry in Hawaii and can ensure that agricultural research and marketing meet the needs of local farmers and ranchers.

     Although your Committee passes this measure with a blank appropriation, it is recommended that the amount of $1,000,000 be inserted by the Committee on Ways and Means.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3208 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair