STAND. COM. REP. NO.  121

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2013

RE:   H.B. No. 486

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2013

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 486 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 the implementation and operation of Future Farmers of America and 4-H programs to educate and support youth entering agricultural careers.

The Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation, Monsanto Hawaii, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii County 4-H Livestock Association, The Kohala Center, and several individuals testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture and the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii at Manoa testified in support of the intent of this measure.  One individual submitted comments.

     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 H.B. No. 486 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committees on Education and Higher Education.

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

____________________________

JESSICA WOOLEY, Chair